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Updated: Aug 3, 2025
High-Resolution Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Small Animals
Published on: December 16, 2022
Computed tomographic evaluation of heart size in clinically healthy cats
Aphisit Wanglerm1, Chawanwith Samachikthummakun1, Zen Kitnitchee1
1Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
This study developed computed tomography (CT) measurements for feline heart size, finding that transverse vertebral heart score (tVHS) and CT vertebral heart score (ctVHS) are reliable indicators for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Radiology and Imaging
- Cardiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Computed tomography (CT) is a valuable diagnostic tool for cardiac disorders.
- Studies on CT imaging of the feline heart are limited.
- Standardized CT measurements for feline cardiac evaluation are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish CT-based measurement techniques for feline heart size.
- To investigate the relationship between feline heart size measurements and factors like age, body weight, and sex.
- To validate CT-derived heart measurements against radiographic assessments.
Main Methods:
- Four CT parameters were assessed: thoracic height/width ratio (THW), relative heart area (RHA), CT vertebral heart score (ctVHS), and transverse vertebral heart score (tVHS).
- Measurements were taken from 1.25 mm thick pre- and post-contrast enhanced CT images.
- Radiographic vertebral heart score (rVHS) was also evaluated for comparison.
Main Results:
- Age significantly influenced THW and RHA, while gonadal status affected RHA.
- Age also significantly impacted tVHS, but ctVHS was not influenced by age, sex, gonadal status, or body weight.
- Both tVHS and ctVHS showed significant positive correlations with rVHS, suggesting their utility.
Conclusions:
- CT heart size evaluation is feasible using 1.25 mm slice thickness, with both pre- and post-contrast images.
- Transverse vertebral heart score (tVHS) and CT vertebral heart score (ctVHS) are recommended for assessing feline heart size in clinical settings.
Background:
Computed tomography (CT) is currently one of the most useful diagnostic imaging tools for evaluating cardiac disorders in humans and animals. However, studies concerning CT and the feline heart remain scarce.
Aim:
To create measuring techniques for the feline heart size on CT and to determine the relationships of feline heart size observed on CT with internal parameters including age, bodyweight (BW), and sex.
Methods:
Four parameters observed on CT including thoracic height/width ratio (THW), relative heart area (RHA), CT vertebral heart score (ctVHS), transverse vertebral heart score (tVHS) in 1.25 mm slice thickness, and both pre- and post-contrast enhanced images were examined. Additionally, radiographic vertebral heart score (rVHS) was also evaluated.
Results:
THW was significantly influenced by age (p < 0.05). RHA was affected by age and gonadal status of cats (p = 0.001 and p = 0.016, respectively). Age also significantly affected tVHS (p = 0.038). Interestingly, ctVHS was not influenced by age, sex, gonadal status, or BW. tVHS and ctVHS had significantly moderately positive correlations with rVHS (r = 0.476; p = 0.048 and r = 0.6112; p = 0.011, respectively). THW and RHA had non-significant correlations with rVHS (r = 0.2642; p = 0.302 and r = 0.1920; p = 0.455, respectively).
Conclusion:
CT heart size evaluation can be performed in both pre- and post-contrast enhanced images of 1.25 mm slice thickness. tVHS and ctVHS are recommended parameters for evaluating feline heart size in clinical practice.
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