Radiology is the branch of equine medicine that uses imaging technology like radiography (x-rays) and radiation to diagnose and treat disease.
The radiograph (x-ray machine) is one of the most important diagnostic tools available in equine medicine. Radiographs enable the veterinarian to evaluate bone, whether it is the vertebrae in the neck and back, the bones of the leg, or the skull and teeth. Radiographs enable the veterinarian to detect fractures, bone fragments, abnormalities of bone production, infection in or around the bone, cancer, narrowing of joint spaces, immature bones, congenital deformities, and foreign bodies. We can image a foal’s chest to look at heart size, the presence of pneumonia or lung abscesses, and gas trapped within the intestines.
Radiography has advanced quickly in the last decade and we now use digital radiography equipment. This means we can capture images on a computer instead of on film. This allows for rapid diagnosis of a condition, the ability to repeat radiographs within a few seconds, and to burn images to a CD for the owner or to send electronically to second-party viewing.
Other radiology imaging tools include nuclear scintigraphy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), fluoroscopy, and Computed Tomography (CT).
