Recognizing Thoracic Emergencies: Imaging Lessons from Real Cases

Develop a structured approach to thoracic radiographs and improve your ability to recognize imaging patterns associated with acute disease.

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Develop a structured approach to thoracic radiographs and improve your ability to recognize imaging patterns associated with acute disease.

Thoracic radiographs would be much easier to read if emergencies always looked dramatic – but more often, they just don't. Subtle changes in lung opacity, abnormal air distribution, or unexpected device positioning may be the only signs of a rapidly evolving problem, especially in cases complicated by recent procedures or medical interventions.

This Session: Recognizing Thoracic Emergencies – Imaging Lessons from Real Cases

In this webinar, we'll focus on evaluating thoracic radiographs in emergency scenarios. You'll learn a structured approach to assessing the lungs, pleural space, and mediastinum, with an emphasis on recognizing imaging patterns associated with acute deterioration.

Through real-world imaging examples, you'll improve your confidence in reading thoracic radiographs, broaden your list of possible diagnoses in emergency cases, and gain a practical understanding of how AI tools and specialist expertise can support confident clinical decision-making.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize key radiographic features of thoracic emergencies.
  • Identify radiographic findings associated with common in-hospital complications that may result in acute thoracic disease or respiratory distress.
  • Apply a structured approach to interpreting thoracic radiographs in emergency or complication-related cases.
  • Evaluate how AI-generated assessments and board-certified radiologist interpretations can support clinical decision-making in both general and referral practice.

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Speaker

  • Meg Thompson, DVM, DACVR

    Meg Thompson, DVM, DACVR, is a Clinical Professor of Veterinary Imaging at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her DVM degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, completed an internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, and an imaging residency at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists. She joined the Cornell faculty in 2006 after four years as faculty at the University of Florida. She has taught abdominal ultrasound at NAVC/VMX every year since 2004.

    Currently, Dr. Thompson tutors in the first-year DVM curriculum, previously directed Large Animal and Advanced Small Animal Imaging courses, is co-leading the design of elective courses on AI in veterinary medicine, and is updating to reinstate the Small Animal Advanced Imaging course. She currently serves as Chair of the New York State Board of Veterinary Medicine.