Reticulography of the cow in dorsal recumbency: an aid in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic reticuloperitonitis.

The accuracy of radiographic evaluation of the reticulum for traumatic reticuloperitonitis was evaluated. In a retrospective study involving 30 cows that had been radiographed in standing position, the diagnosis of penetrating foreign body was made with certainty in only 3 of 19 cases in which foreign bodies were identified. In 8 cases, no foreign body was identified radiographically, but a foreign body was found at surgery. In a prospective study, 19 cows were radiographed in both the standing and dorsal recumbent (dorsal reticulography) positions; in 10 cases, the diagnosis made on the basis of the standing radiograph was changed because of the dorsal reticulographic findings. When compared with surgical or necropsy findings in 9 cases, dorsal reticulography was accurate in determining whether a radiopaque foreign body was embedded in the reticulum wall. Thus, dorsal reticulography was shown to be an accurate diagnostic method for evaluating cows with suspected traumatic reticulitis, whereas radiographs obtained in the standing position were relatively inaccurate.