Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with right-sided heart failure caused by heart muscle lymphoma
By Tong, L J et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2015·Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital, Australia·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Right-sided congestive heart failure in a dog because of a primary intracavitary myocardial lymphoma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old female Cocker Spaniel was brought to the vet with sudden breathing difficulties and a swollen belly that had lasted for three days. Tests showed fluid buildup in her chest and abdomen, and an ultrasound revealed a large mass in her heart. Unfortunately, the dog was euthanized, and a postmortem exam confirmed that the mass was a type of cancer called myocardial lymphoma, which had caused severe heart failure. This case emphasizes the importance of considering lymphoma when diagnosing heart issues in dogs.
People also search for: dog breathing problems · Cocker Spaniel heart failure · lymphoma in dogs · dog abdominal swelling treatment
Abstract
CASE REPORT: A 9-year-old female intact Cocker Spaniel was presented with a history of acute-onset dyspnoea and abdominal distension of 3 days' duration. Ultrasonography revealed pleural, peritoneal and pericardial effusions. Abdominal fluid analysis was consistent with a modified transudate. Echocardiography revealed a large, hypoechoic space-occupying mass within the right atrium. The dog was euthanased and the postmortem examination showed a solid, 40 × 35 × 20 mm broad-based mass arising from the right atrial wall and occluding approximately 90% of the right atrial lumen. Histopathology revealed myocardial lymphoma. There were histologically similar, focal nodules in the lung parenchyma without involvement of other extracardiac sites. There was gross and histological evidence of hepatic congestion and marked distension of the caudal vena cava, consistent with secondary right-sided congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the need to consider lymphoma as a differential diagnosis for an intra-atrial mass and as a cause of congestive heart failure in the dog.
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/25708789/