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Journals / Kocatepe Veteriner Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 19 Sayı: 2

Radiographic Cardiac Measurements in Clinically Healthy Calves: Reference Values for VHS, VLAS, CTR, and CVC

Klinik Olarak Sağlıklı Buzağılarda Radyografik Kardiyak Ölçümler: VHS, VLAS, CTR ve CVC için Referans Değerler

Ayşe Gölgeli Bedir(ATATÜRK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, VETERİNER FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-9798-8638
Esra Modoğlu(ATATURK UNIVERSITY)0009-0009-0506-8999
Yasemin Akçora(ATATURK UNIVERSITY)0009-0002-6104-8393
Pages
210–219
Publication Date
2026-06-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In conclusion, growth significantly affects absolute cardiac dimensions in young calves, while VHS and CTR/CTO remain stable, supporting their reliability as size-normalized radiographic indices during early life.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study aimed to establish reference values for thoracic radiographic cardiac measurements in clinically healthy calves aged 0-3 months and to evaluate their associations with age, sex, and breed.
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Key Findings & Data:A total of 100 clinically healthy calves (68 Simmental, 17 Brown Swiss/Montofon, 12 crossbred and 3 Holstein; 65 males and 35 females; 1-93 days old) presented to the Animal Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, were included.
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Conclusion & Impact:In conclusion, growth significantly affects absolute cardiac dimensions in young calves, while VHS and CTR/CTO remain stable, supporting their reliability as size-normalized radiographic indices during early life.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Buzağı · Kardiyotorasik Oran · Kaudal Vena Kava

Abstract

This study aimed to establish reference values for thoracic radiographic cardiac measurements in clinically healthy calves aged 0-3 months and to evaluate their associations with age, sex, and breed. The assessed parameters included Vertebral Heart Score (VHS), Vertebral Left Atrial Size (VLAS), cardiothoracic ratio (CTR; recorded as CTO in the dataset), long axis (LA), short axis (SA), and caudal vena cava (CVC) diameter. A total of 100 clinically healthy calves (68 Simmental, 17 Brown Swiss/Montofon, 12 crossbred and 3 Holstein; 65 males and 35 females; 1-93 days old) presented to the Animal Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, were included. Sedation was not used. Right lateral and dorsoventral thoracic radiographs were obtained, and measurements were performed using a DICOM/PACS system by two independent observers in a blinded manner, with three repeated measurements. VHS and VLAS were calculated in vertebral units. CTR (CTO) was defined as the ratio of maximal cardiac width to maximal internal thoracic width, while LA, SA, and CVC were recorded as linear measurements. Statistical analyses were conducted using MedCalc. Sex comparisons were performed with the Mann–Whitney U test, breed comparisons (excluding Holstein) with the Kruskal-Wallis test, and age effects with multivariable regression analysis. Absolute measurements (LA, SA, and CVC) increased significantly with age (p<0.01), whereas VHS and CTR (CTO) remained stable (p>0.05). Male calves showed higher LA, SA, and VLAS values than females (p<0.05). No significant breed-related differences were detected. In conclusion, growth significantly affects absolute cardiac dimensions in young calves, while VHS and CTR/CTO remain stable, supporting their reliability as size-normalized radiographic indices during early life.

Özet

Bu çalışma, 0-3 aylık klinik olarak sağlıklı buzağılarda toraks radyografik kardiyak ölçümlere ait referans değerleri belirlemeyi ve bu ölçümlerin yaş, cinsiyet ve ırk ile ilişkisini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. İncelenen parametreler; Vertebral Kalp Skoru (VHS), Vertebral Sol Atriyum Boyutu (VLAS), kardiyotorasik oran (CTR; veri setinde CTO olarak kaydedilmiştir), uzun aks (LA), kısa aks (SA) ve kaudal vena kava (CVC) çapını içermektedir. Çalışmaya, Atatürk Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Hayvan Hastanesine başvuran toplam 100 klinik olarak sağlıklı buzağı (68 Simental, 17 Montofon, 12 melez ve 3 Holştayn; 65 erkek ve 35 dişi; 1-93 günlük) dâhil edilmiştir. Sedasyon uygulanmamıştır. Sağ lateral ve dorsoventral toraks radyografileri elde edilmiş ve ölçümler DICOM/PACS sistemi kullanılarak, körlenmiş iki bağımsız gözlemci tarafından üçer tekrar halinde yapılmıştır. VHS ve VLAS vertebra birimi cinsinden hesaplanmıştır. CTR (CTO), maksimum kalp genişliğinin maksimum iç toraks genişliğine oranı olarak tanımlanmış; LA, SA ve CVC doğrusal ölçümler olarak kaydedilmiştir. İstatistiksel analizler MedCalc programı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Cinsiyet karşılaştırmaları Mann-Whitney U testi, Holştayn hariç ırk karşılaştırmaları Kruskal-Wallis testi ve yaş etkileri çok değişkenli regresyon analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Mutlak ölçümler (LA, SA ve CVC) yaşla birlikte anlamlı olarak artarken (p<0,01), VHS ve CTR (CTO) sabit kalmıştır (p>0,05). Erkek buzağılarda LA, SA ve VLAS değerleri dişilere göre daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Irklar arasında anlamlı fark saptanmamıştır. Sonuç olarak, erken yaşam döneminde büyüme mutlak kardiyak boyutları etkilerken, VHS ve CTR/CTO’nun stabil kalması, bu indekslerin boyuttan bağımsız güvenilir radyografik ölçütler olduğunu desteklemektedir.

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Cite This Article

Bedir, A. G., Modoğlu, E., Akçora, Y. (2026). Radiographic Cardiac Measurements in Clinically Healthy Calves: Reference Values for VHS, VLAS, CTR, and CVC. Kocatepe Veteriner Dergisi, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 2, 210–219. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1895566

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