Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sudden death in dog caused by rare heart tumor in left ventricle
By de Nijs, Maria Irene et al.·Published in Acta veterinaria Scandinavica·2016·Veterinary Practice Schouwen-Duiveland, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Left ventricular cardiac myxoma and sudden death in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old male West Highland white terrier was found dead after staying at a kennel for a week. The dog had a known heart murmur, which turned out to be caused by a rare benign tumor in the heart called a myxoma. This tumor was blocking the aorta, leading to sudden death. If the dog had undergone an echocardiogram, the tumor might have been detected earlier, and surgery could have been an option to remove it.
People also search for: dog heart murmur causes · West Highland white terrier sudden death · myxoma in dogs · dog heart tumor symptoms
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myxoma is a very rare benign cardiac tumor in dogs. This is the first description of a cardiac myxoma originating from the left ventricular outflow tract, presumably causing sudden death. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 12-year-old male West Highland white terrier was found dead during its 1-week stay in a kennel. The dog was known to have a cardiac murmur. On necropsy, a pedunculated neoplasia was found attached to the interventricular aspect of the left ventricular outflow tract, resulting in almost complete obstruction of the aorta. As this was the only abnormality identified, the tumor was considered as the cause of sudden death. Histopathologic findings were compatible with a myxoma. CONCLUSIONS: Benign intraluminal tumors of the heart are very rare in dogs, but may have fatal consequences. Echocardiography could have revealed the cause of the cardiac murmur of this previously asymptomatic dog. Surgical removal could have been possible, as the tumor was pedunculated.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27334273/