What this modality answers
- Thoracic questions: cardiac silhouette size and shape, pulmonary patterns, pleural space disease, metastatic screening.
- Abdominal questions: organ size and position, obstructive patterns, radiopaque foreign material, free gas or fluid.
- Orthopedic questions: fractures, joint effusion, degenerative change, bone lesions and aggressive versus non-aggressive patterns.
- Spinal and skull questions where the clinical picture points to a bony or alignment problem.
When to send a study
- The clinical picture and your own read do not line up.
- A subtle pulmonary or abdominal pattern needs a second set of eyes before you commit to a plan.
- You are staging a known disease and need consistent, comparable reporting over time.
- The owner is waiting in the room and you need the answer before they leave.
What to include when you submit
- Submit original DICOM files, never screenshots or photographs of a monitor.
- Include at least two orthogonal views of the region of interest, plus a third view for thorax and abdomen when possible.
- Collimate to the region of interest and label left and right.
- Write a short clinical history: signalment, presenting complaint, duration, relevant bloodwork and what you want answered.
Standard, STAT or Wet Read
STAT x-ray studies are returned in 1 hour. Standard studies are returned within 24 hours. Wet Read is the fastest option, read while you wait, with targeted answers to the questions you submit.
The priority is chosen case by case at submission, and every case is read by an ACVR- or ECVDI-certified radiologist. Reports place the prioritized diagnoses and recommendations first, followed by the comprehensive findings, and each case carries Real-Time Chat so a question reaches the reading radiologist in seconds. More detail is in the guide to choosing a priority.
Frequently asked questions
How many views should I submit for a radiographic study?
At least two orthogonal views of the region of interest. For thorax and abdomen a third view adds meaningful information, since lesions can be silhouetted out on a single projection. If a view is difficult to obtain in a painful or unstable patient, say so in the history rather than omitting it silently.
Do you interpret radiographs from exotic patients?
Yes. RadsForVets interprets studies for dogs, cats and exotics. For exotic patients, STAT and Wet Read turnaround is not guaranteed; a 24-hour best-effort read applies instead.
Does image quality really change the report?
Yes. Motion blur, poor collimation, incorrect exposure and rotated positioning all limit what can be stated with confidence. A well-positioned study lets the radiologist commit to a finding rather than qualify it.
Can I ask a question about the report after it arrives?
Yes. Real-Time Chat sits on the case itself, so a follow-up question reaches the reading radiologist in seconds without a phone call, voicemail or email chain.