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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Cat with lung cancer causing air and fluid buildup in chest

By Kim, Jaehwan et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2019·Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, South Korea·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Multimodality imaging characteristics of tension pyopneumothorax secondary to pulmonary carcinoma in a cat.

Species:
cat

Plain-English summary

A 3-year-old Himalayan cat was brought in for breathing problems and was found to have a serious condition called tension pyopneumothorax, which is a buildup of air and fluid in the chest. X-rays and ultrasounds showed a large mass in the lungs and fluid in the chest cavity. Despite efforts to remove the fluid and air, the cat sadly passed away two days later. A necropsy revealed that the cause was pulmonary cancer that had spread to the pleura, the lining around the lungs.

People also search for: cat breathing problems · tension pyopneumothorax in cats · pulmonary cancer in cats · cat respiratory distress treatment

Abstract

A 3-year-old Himalayan cat was presented with respiratory distress. Radiography showed multiple gas opacity foci, with the locations dependent on patient positioning, and severe pleural effusion with a contralateral mediastinal shift. A large volume of fluid and air was aspirated, and the fluid components were consistent with a nonseptic exudate. A pulmonary mass, pleural nodules, and an air-fluid interface with air bubbles trapped in fibrous septations were identified using thoracic ultrasonography and CT. The cat died 2 days after imaging studies. Necropsy revealed tension pyopneumothorax caused by pulmonary carcinoma and multiple pleural metastases.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28967190/