Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scan signs and short-term results in cats with pyothorax
By Rei, Ines Lopes et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2025·Langford Vets, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: CT features and short-term outcome in cats presenting with pyothorax.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 41 cats with pyothorax (a serious condition where pus collects in the chest cavity) were evaluated using CT scans to understand their condition better. All the cats had fluid in their chest, and many showed signs of swollen lymph nodes, thickened pleura, and pneumonia. They were treated either with medication or surgery, and most of them, 36 out of 41, were able to go home after an average hospital stay of about a week. This suggests that with proper treatment, cats with pyothorax can recover well.
People also search for: cat pyothorax symptoms · cat chest fluid treatment · cat pneumonia signs · cat surgery recovery time
Abstract
ObjectivesThe purpose of this retrospective, descriptive study was to assess CT findings and short-term outcome of cats with pyothorax presented to a referral hospital.MethodsThoracic CT studies of 41 cats with pyothorax comprising pre-contrast lung and soft tissue reconstructions and post-contrast soft tissue reconstructions were blindly reviewed by two European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI) board-certified radiologists and a third-year ECVDI resident, referencing a predetermined list of imaging features. Clinical outcomes, including treatment options, survival to discharge and length of hospitalisation, were recorded.ResultsAll cats (100%) had pleural effusion. Common imaging findings included intrathoracic lymphadenomegaly (85%), pleural thickening (85%), presence of pannus (81%) and evidence of pneumonia (49%). Pulmonary abscessation was suspected in 22% of cats and foreign bodies in 12%. Of the 41 cats, 20 were managed medically, 20 underwent surgery and one had unsuccessful medical treatment followed by surgical intervention. The median duration of hospitalisation was 7 days, and 36 cats survived to discharge.Conclusions and relevanceThis study demonstrates that cats with pyothorax commonly have marked changes on CT that involve multiple thoracic compartments. Our study population highlights that feline pyothorax can have a good short-term outcome when managed either medically or surgically.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40905300/