This week we had some good old fashioned films to look at. No powerpoint, and everyone clustered around the viewboxes to get a look at them. We also gave the residents two at a time with a 15 minute time limit. It’s good practice for letting the last case go and moving on to the next one.
Case 1
Case 1 was a 2 year old female spayed cat with coughing. The heart was enlarged, as were the pulmonary arteries. There was also a diffuse bronchial pattern. The most likely diagnosis by far was heartworm. Recommendations included echocardiography to look for adult worms. Diagnosis: heartworm disease.
Case 2
Case 2 was a 9 year old male neutered DSH with dyspnea. There was a broad-based, soft tissue opacity in the cranial thoracic tracheal lumen. The remainder of the thorax was normal. Differentials included lymphoma, carcinoma, granuloma and stricture. Endoscopy or cervical ultrasound were options for further workup. Diagnosis: adenocarcinoma.
Feline tracheal tumors are uncommon, but most are lymphoma and carcinoma.
Carlisle CH, Biery DN, Thrall DE. Tracheal and laryngeal tumors in the dog and cat: literature review and 13 additional patients. Veterinary Radiology 1991;32:229-235.
Case 3
Case 3 was a 5 year old male neutered Jack Russell Terrier with difficulty swallowing. On thoracic radiographs, there was a soft tissue opacity in the caudal mediastinum that looked laminar with some gas between the layers. It was depressing the caudal mainstem bronchi. An esophagram was requested and contrast flowed around the cranial portion of the mass. Differentials included esophageal neoplasia, diverticulum, less likely foreign body. Diagnosis: Esophageal diverticulum secondary to an esophageal foreign body obstruction the year previously.
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