It is usually diagnosed in young animals presented for regurgitation. On survey radiographs, an esophageal diverticulum may be seen in the cranial mediastinum. The esophageal constriction is not visible on survey radiographs. Narrowing of the esophageal lumen is identified at the heart base. The esophagus caudal to the cardiac silhouette is usually normal.
Hiatal hernias are usually transient and associated with respiratory movements.
They are sometimes difficult to diagnose and may require an esophagram with fluoroscopy. On less obvious cases, survey radiographs may only show a soft tissue opacity in the caudo-dorsal thorax that may disappear on a subsequent radiograph. The stomach may move in and out of the thorax with respiratory movements. Esophageal intussusception Esophageal intussusception is a serious but rare condition found most commonly in chronically vomiting young dogs. The stomach telescopes into the esophagus forming a large opacity caudo-dorsally.