Thoracic Ultrasonography in Calves: A Narrative Review of Techniques and Reporting Practices

Ultrasonography of the bovine lung is a noninvasive technique allowing recognition of lower respiratory tract lesions and differentiation from disease limited to the upper respiratory tract. Techniques for scanning the thorax have evolved to facilitate examination of cohorts of calves quickly, while maintaining accuracy. Classification systems for the interpretation of images, their assignment as normal or abnormal, and grading of their severity are varied. Without a reporting consensus, comparison of short-and long-term outcomes attributable to ultrasonographic findings is challenging. Differences in operator agreement might complicate interpretation further. The objective of this review was to gather methods for screening calf lungs using thoracic ultrasonography and describe the heterogeneity in scanning techniques and methods of image interpretation, including available scoring methods.