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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Spinal epidural empyema causing paralysis in a cat

By Maeta, Noritaka et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2010·Department of Comparative Animal Science, Japan·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Spinal epidural empyema in a cat.

Species:
cat

Plain-English summary

A 2-year-old neutered male domestic shorthaired cat was brought in for worsening weakness and difficulty walking. After some imaging tests, the vet discovered a spinal epidural empyema, which is an infection in the space around the spinal cord. The cat underwent surgery to remove the infection, which was successful. Following treatment, the cat showed improvement in mobility and strength.

People also search for: cat weakness walking · cat spinal infection treatment · what is spinal epidural empyema in cats

Abstract

The diagnosis and surgical treatment of spinal epidural empyema (SEE) in a 2-year-old neutered male domestic shorthaired cat is described. SEE was diagnosed by computed tomographic myelography (CT myelography) and surgical exploration. The lesion was missed on both non-enhanced CT and conventional myelography. SEE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of progressive myelopathy in cats, and CT myelography should be undertaken when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cannot be performed.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20226705/