Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diagnosis and treatment of a congenital cervical tracheal diverticulum in an Arabian foal.
- Journal:
- Journal of equine veterinary science
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Fernandes, T et al.
- Affiliation:
- Equine Veterinary Medical Center
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A twelve-day-old Arabian colt had a swelling on the right side of his neck since birth, which turned out to be a rare condition called a tracheal diverticulum, an abnormal air-filled pouch in the trachea. Tests, including ultrasound and a special type of scan, showed that this pouch was connected to his trachea and helped the veterinarians plan for surgery. The colt underwent surgery to remove the pouch while under general anesthesia, and after the operation, he recovered well with minimal scarring. Forty days after leaving the hospital, he was completely healed. This case highlights how to properly diagnose and treat a rare congenital issue in foals.
Abstract
Tracheal congenital defects are infrequent but serious findings in animals. Tracheal diverticula are congenital air-filled cystic lesions, a sub-type of paratracheal air cyst mainly found extra-thoracically in foals. We describe a case in a twelve-day old show Arabian colt with right sided unilateral cervical swelling since birth. Percutaneous ultrasound revealed a heterogeneously air- and fluid-filled spheroid mass, and upper airway endoscopy confirmed luminal communication to the trachea. Contrasted computed tomography showed a narrow isthmus originating between two proximal tracheal rings and coursing caudally before dilating to form the palpable mass, and facilitated detailed surgical planning. The mass was excised completely under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination confirmed a congenital tracheal diverticulum with pseudostratified columnar epithelial walls, milk-like content and secondary intramural bacterial infection. The foal´s recovery post-surgery was favorable, and resolution was complete with minimal scarring 40 days following discharge. This case illustrates appropriate diagnostic approach and intervention in a rare case of congenital disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40032165/