Assessment of the accuracy of thoracic radiography in the diagnosis of canine chronic bronchitis.

Thoracic radiographs from 23 dogs with chronic bronchitis were mixed with those taken from 11 dogs (matched by age and bodyweight) without respiratory disease and interpreted twice by two blinded, independent examiners in an attempt to determine the accuracy of radiography for the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis. The only radiographic signs found more often in dogs with chronic bronchitis were thickening of the bronchial walls and increased numbers of visible bronchial walls (P < 0.01). Other signs, including bronchial calcification and interstitial pattern, occurred with similar frequency in both groups of dogs. The examiners were consistent in their interpretations (kappa > 0.64). The accuracy of radiographic diagnosis of chronic bronchitis is limited principally by insensitivity for bronchial lesions.