Introduction to Diagnostic Imaging in Zoological Medicine

The utility of diagnostic imaging in zoological medicine is broad with increasing impacts on individual patients and animal populations. The use of digital radiography (DR), ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose, treat, and prognosticate supports the health and welfare of animals and has become a core modality in the baseline assessment of many zoo patients. A picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is essential for any modern digital imaging management system for image acquisition, transfer, archiving, and viewing. Nearly all DR, US, CT, and MR units are capable of integrating with a PACS, resulting in standardized data entry fields such as, date, time, patient name, local medical record number, and imaging modality. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.