Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Multimodal Imaging of Systemic Metastatic Myocardial and Vascular Calcification Associated with Renal Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in a Castrated Male Cat with End-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report
- Journal:
- Animals
- Year:
- 2026
- Authors:
- Minsoo Chung et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea · CH
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
This report discusses a 10-year-old male mixed-breed cat that had serious heart and kidney issues. The cat was very tired and had stopped eating, and it was diagnosed with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tests showed high levels of phosphorus and calcium in the blood, which can lead to harmful calcification in the body. Imaging tests revealed significant calcification in the heart and other tissues, indicating severe heart problems. Unfortunately, despite aggressive treatment, the cat's condition worsened, and it was euthanized eight days later due to ongoing kidney failure.
Abstract
Myocardial calcification is an uncommon complication associated with end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) in feline patients. This report describes the clinical and multimodal imaging features of metastatic calcification in a 10-year-old castrated male mixed-breed cat. The patient presented with dyspnea and anorexia, and was diagnosed with IRIS Stage 4 CKD. Laboratory findings revealed severe hyperphosphatemia and an elevated calcium–phosphorus product (CPP) of 135 mg<sup>2</sup>/dL<sup>2</sup>, based on total calcium. This value significantly exceeds 70 mg<sup>2</sup>/dL<sup>2</sup>, a threshold associated with a high probability of inducing soft tissue mineralization. Echocardiography revealed extensive hyperechoic foci with posterior acoustic shadowing in the interventricular septum and left ventricular wall. Functional assessment demonstrated a restrictive diastolic filling pattern, suggesting increased myocardial stiffness and congestive heart failure. Computed tomography (CT) further visualized systemic involvement, showing diffuse, amorphous calcifications (400–900 HU) in the myocardium, multifocal aortic wall, and extracardiac tissues. Despite intensive treatment with diuretics and renal support, the patient was euthanized eight days later due to progressive renal failure. This case illustrates that the interaction between metastatic calcification and uremic cardiomyopathy (UC) can result in refractory heart failure, underscoring the value of combined echocardiography and CT in evaluating end-stage renal disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16081169