LITERATURE REVIEW OF RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF INTERNAL ORGANS IN PSITTACIFORMES

This review article contains the published measurements and ratios of the different coelomic organs in birds including the heart, proventriculus, and liver. Radiographic examination of birds is becoming very important in the daily diagnostic assessment of patients presented to veterinary hospitals. When a veterinarian is treating birds, it is crucial to have a broad theoretical knowledge of the subject as well as sufficient practical experience. However, there may be some help for the less experienced veterinarian as they assess their avian patients with primary diagnostic options. The measurement techniques and the interpretation of avian radiographic examinations are described in this article, so that veterinarians can easily use this information as a guide in practice. The heart and liver size are evaluated on ventrodorsal radiographs. For heart width, a ratio with the cranial coelom and/or coracoid has been determined while the liver dimensions can be interpreted by comparing it to the size of the caudal coelom. The other internal organs are interpreted on lateral radiographic images. The best way to evaluate the diameter of the proventriculus is through comparison of the organ to the height of the keel of the sternum. For kidneys, spleen, and gonads, no exact formulas have been published at this time. However, kidney size can be evaluated by a line that is drawn parallel to the spine that extends through the ventral border of the acetabulum. Healthy kidneys should not extend ventrally to this line. By combining all of the radiologic measurements described in this article with anamnesis and clinical examination, the information may assist the veterinarian in obtaining a correct diagnosis which would result in the optimal treatment for disease condition affecting the avian patient.