Analysing radiographic cardiothoracic indices across age groups in Mehsana goats (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The cardiothoracic indices/ratios compare cardiac dimensions with consistent thoracic anatomical structures reflective of body size and are very useful in cardiac size evaluation, as they minimize false positive diagnosis of cardiac enlargement that may arise from variation in body size, thoracic morphology and magnification of the radiographic image. The present study was conducted to establish the standard values for various cardiothoracic indices/ ratios in Mehsana Goats across four different age groups from 6 to 24 months age. The cardiothoracic ratios such as Cardiac long axis (CLA): Thoracic height, Cardiac long axis (CLA): T3-T5 length, Cardiac short axis (CSA): T3-T5 length and Aorta diameter: T4 length demonstrated significant variation with advancing age, while Cardiac short axis (CSA): Thoracic height, Tracheal diameter (TrD): Thoracic inlet diameter (TID), Tracheal diameter (TrD): T4 length, Caudal vena cava diameter (CVC): T4 length and Caudal vena cava diameter (CVC): Aorta diameter (AO) did not show significant difference across different age groups. The positive correlation found with age and body weight CLA: T3-T5 length, CVC: T4 length and CVC: AO ratio with age and body weight indicates proportional growth of cardiac and thoracic structures with age and body weight. The CLA: Thoracic height, CSA: Thoracic height, CSA: T3-T5 length, TrD: TID, TrD: T4 length and AO: T4 length ratios exhibited negative correlation with age and body weight.