Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chest x-rays find lung and heart problems in hyperthyroid cats
By Kormpou, Foteini et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2020·School of Veterinary Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Concurrent thoracic pathology identified with radiology in hyperthyroid cats referred for radioiodine therapy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of hyperthyroid cats being prepared for radioiodine treatment had chest X-rays taken to check for any lung or heart problems. Out of 252 cats, 77% showed some kind of chest issue, with many having lung abnormalities, heart enlargement, or bone issues. In a few cases, these findings changed the treatment plan, but most cats were still able to proceed with the radioiodine therapy. This study highlights the importance of checking for other health issues before starting treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats.
People also search for: hyperthyroid cat treatment · cat chest X-ray results · radioiodine therapy for cats · cat heart problems · lung issues in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Radioiodine (RAI) treatment for hyperthyroidism is becoming increasingly available in the UK. Pretreatment assessment is commonly performed, as patient handling is limited once RAI has been administered. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of thoracic pathology using thoracic radiography in hyperthyroid cats referred for RAI treatment and to determine the value of this technique pretreatment. METHODS: The hospital databases were searched for hyperthyroid cats referred for RAI treatment at the Feline Centre, Langford Vets, between January 2012 and July 2016. Radiographs were reviewed by Diplomates of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging at the time of treatment and each set of radiographs was subsequently reviewed by one radiologist for the study. Cardiorespiratory signs were recorded, if present, and any change in treatment plan or suitability for RAI treatment was documented. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-two cats were included in the study. Thoracic pathology was identified in 77% (n = 194/252) of the cats, of which 59% (n = 115/194) had pulmonary abnormalities with bronchial and bronchointerstitial patterns most frequently; 57% (n = 111/194) had skeletal abnormalities and 43% (n = 84/194) had cardiac abnormalities, with mild-to-moderate cardiomegaly most prevalent. Other abnormalities included sternal lymphadenomegaly (7%; n = 13/194), mediastinal pathology (3%; n = 5/194), oesophageal pathology (2%; n = 4/194) and pleural space disease (0.5%; n = 1/194).Twelve cases (6%) had a change in their treatment plan as a result of thoracic radiographic abnormalities, of which five subsequently underwent RAI treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A low prevalence of significant thoracic pathology was identified on radiographs in hyperthyroid cats referred for RAI treatment. Incidental thoracic abnormalities were found much more commonly; hence, results of thoracic radiology need to be combined with the clinical picture, to decide whether further investigations or alterations to the treatment plan are required pre-RAI.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32081073/