Importance of thoracic radiography in the approach of animals with neoplasia

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the importance of the thoracic radiography in dogs and cats with neoplasias of diverse origins and localizations, excepting mammary neoplasm. It was studied 54 animals on suspicion of pulmonary metastase and/or primary lung tumors- 49 dogs (91%) and five cats (9%); being 28 (52%) female (3 cats) and 26 (48%) male (2 cats) - attended by Thoracic and Oncology Medicine Services in the Veterinary Hospital/UEL, in 2005. The mammary neoplasias were not included in this work. From the 54 animals, six (11%) presented radiography examinations with evidence of pulmonary metastase, being one cat. Four animals (8%) had compatible radiography examination with primary pulmonary neoplasia. These results indicate the importance of the thoracic radiography in the approach of animals with neoplasia, to exclude the possibility of pulmonary metastase independent from the neoplasm origin and the necessity of radiographic attendance to the animals without radiographic signals of pulmonary metastase.