Premium
RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF CARDIAC SIZE IN NORMAL FERRETS
Author(s) -
Stepien Rebecca L.,
Benson Keith G.,
Forrest Lisa J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
veterinary radiology and ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.541
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1740-8261
pISSN - 1058-8183
DOI - 10.1111/j.1740-8261.1999.tb00886.x
Subject(s) - medicine , radiography , body weight , vertebral body , nuclear medicine , anatomy , radiology
Right lateral, left lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs were obtained in 20 normal ferrets (11 male). Three independent observers recorded measurements of the cardiac silhouette and results for each parameter were averaged. Long axis (length), short axis (width) and total of length plus width (L+W) were recorded in each view. Comparative measurements were calculated, including the ratio of L+W/length of thoracic vertebrae 5–8, and a modified vertebral heart score (VHS) method, measuring the heart in vertebral units. Measurements made in ventrodorsal views were usually larger than corresponding measurements in lateral views. Weight and most absolute measurements differed significanlty between male and female ferret ( P < 0.05), but the differences in absolute measurements were not apparent when related to measures of body size (Ratio and modified VHS methods). Given the variability in body weight and size in ferrets, measurements of the cardiac silhouette normalized for body size may be more universally applicable than absolute measurements.