Radiographic evaluation of cardiac size in the white stork (Ciconia ciconia)

Physical examination of the cardiovascular system in birds is quite difficult compared to other animals. As in humans and mammalian animals, radiography is a reliable diagnostic tool to identify cardiovascular disorders in birds. However, cardiovascular radiography studies for birds are very limited and reference information is lacking. In this study the aim was to determine the reference values of cardiac radiographic measurements that can be used especially in the diagnosis of cardiomegaly in storks, which is a free-living bird species. For this purpose, 26 white storks without cardiovascular disorders were used in the study. Radiographs were taken in lateral and ventrodorsal projections. Five measurements: heart length (61.70 +/- 6.69 mm), heart width (51.65 +/- 4.84), carina length (139.80 +/- 10.05), thoracic width (87.45 +/- 6.58), and corticoid width (10.24 +/- 1.20) were performed. The ratio of the heart width to thoracic width was 59.16%. The ratio of heart length to carina length was 44.28%. Heart width correlates significantly and positively with the thoracic width (R: 0.556, R2: 0.310, P: 0.003). The heart width can be estimated by using the thoracic width values with the regression-based formula in the results of this study. Clinically, it can be determined whether an individual case falls between the minimum or maximum reference values for heart width or length. The results presented in this study may provide clinicians with reference information regarding cardiomegaly.