Computed Radiographic Evaluation of Angle of Gastric Axis to Angle of Liver Tip Ratio (AGA/ACV) in Clinically Healthy Dogs

Abstract

The study was aimed to evaluate ratio to the angle of gastric axis (AGA) and the angle of the caudoventral liver tip (ACV) and variation according to breed, age, body weight, sex and neutering status in clinically healthy dogs. A total of 123 clinically healthy dogs older than one year and representing different breeds and chest conformations were included. Clinical and haemato-biochemical findings were assessed prior to radiographic examination to support normal hepatic status. Thoracoabdominal radiographs were obtained and measured AGA and ACV on lateral radiographic images before calculating the AGA/ACV ratio. Breed and age group differences were statistically significant, while body weight, sex and neutering status differences were non-significant. The mean AGA/ACV ratios for dogs with barrel chests, deep chests and round chests were 2.266 ± 0.035, 2.265 ± 0.038 and 2.120 ± 0.050, respectively. It was concluded that AGA/ACV ratio was approximately 2.23 and findings provide preliminary baseline information on the radiographic relationship between gastric-axis orientation and the caudoventral liver-tip angle in clinically healthy dogs. Further, the ratio may be applied as a diagnostic indicator for hepatic abnormalities in larger population and dogs with confirmed hepatic disease.