Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treating a caudal mediastinal granuloma in a dog without surgery
By Dorlis, Christos et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2025·From the University of Edinburgh, 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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Nonsurgical Management of a Caudal Mediastinal Granuloma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old female Springer Spaniel was brought to the vet with a fever, tiredness, and a mild cough that had lasted for three days. After imaging tests showed a mass in her chest that couldn't be surgically removed, a biopsy revealed it was a chronic granuloma caused by an E. coli infection. The dog was treated with long-term antibiotics, and follow-up scans showed that the mass completely disappeared after six months. This case highlights that even when surgery isn't an option, effective medical treatment can lead to a full recovery.
People also search for: dog cough and fever · Springer Spaniel granuloma treatment · E. coli infection in dogs
Abstract
A 3 yr old female springer spaniel presented with a 3-day history of pyrexia, lethargy, and a mild cough. A year prior, the dog had undergone surgical removal of a grass seed from her sublumbar muscles. Computed tomography of the thorax revealed the presence of a caudal mediastinal mass closely associated with the esophagus and diaphragm. A median sternotomy was performed, but the mass proved nonresectable. Biopsy results confirmed a chronic granuloma, and the culture isolated Escherichia coli spp. The patient was treated with long-term antibiotics and the response was followed with computed tomography, with the mass completely resolved in 6 mo. Caudal mediastinal masses are a rare entity in veterinary medicine. Most of the masses are abscesses or granulomas caused by migrating foreign bodies. Surgical excision or debridement is considered the preferred treatment. This case report describes the successful long-term management of a nonresectable mediastinal granuloma through medical intervention. Medical management can have successful outcomes when surgical excision is not feasible.
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/40009525/