This case is an excellent example of the importance of
evaluating the entire radiographic image. In this case, the
cause of the gagging and presumed vomiting was found not in the
abdomen, where the study was focused, but in the thorax on the
edges of the radiographic views. Other examples of significant
findings that are located in an area different from the usual
focus of radiographs include pulmonary metastatic nodules on the
edge of an abdominal study and a lytic lesion on a proximal
humerus seen on a thoracic study. Developing a systematic method
for reading radiographs can help veterinarians avoid missing a
lesion. This process is much like the systematic approach to the
physical examination. My method of reading abdominal radiographs
is to first evaluate nonabdominal structures such as the thorax,
ribs, spine, pelvis, hindlimbs (if included), and peripheral
soft tissues. Then I evaluate the overall abdominal contrast
followed by an examination of specific structures. I move in a
cranial-to-caudal direct