Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Atlas and Text

Chapter Two The Thorax 123
FIG. 2-98 A 5-year-old spayed
Boston Terrier with a history of
regurgitating immediately after eating.
On the lateral thoracic radiograph
the trachea is ventrally
displaced at the level of the thoracic
inlet. There is a radiopaque object
dorsal to the trachea. This object has
a bone density and trabecular pattern.
It represents a portion of a vertebral
body that is lodged within the
esophagus. There is gas noted in the
esophagus surrounding this foreign
object. The portion of the esophagus
distal to this foreign body also contains
a small amount of fluid and gas.
Diagnosis: Esophageal foreign body.
There is no evidence of esophageal
perforation. The esophageal foreign
body was removed by endoscopy. No
complications were encountered.
FIG. 2-99 A 5-year-old female
Lhasa Apso with an acute onset of
vomiting and diarrhea with abdominal
distention. The dog was anorectic.
On the lateral thoracic
radiograph there is a radiodense foreign
body in the esophagus anterior
to the diaphragm. The bone density
and trabecular pattern identify this
object as a bone. There is a small
amount of gas within the cranial
thoracic esophagus dorsal to the trachea.
Diagnosis: Esophageal foreign
body. No complications were noted.
The foreign body was displaced into
the stomach with a fiberoptic endoscope.
a communication between the esophagus and the trachea or bronchus during an
esophageal contrast study (Fig. 2-100). Aspirated contrast medium must not be confused
with a fistula. When a fistula is present, a larger amount of contrast will be present within
the distal than within the proximal airway. The presence of contrast in the cranial portion
of the trachea suggests that contrast visualized more caudally in the airways may have
been aspirated.
E S O P H AG E A L F U N C T I O N
Evaluation of esophageal function usually requires fluoroscopy; however, some indirect
information can be obtained from both survey and contrast static images. 262-264
Generalized or localized esophageal dilation is a nonspecific finding that indicates reduced