Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with heart fluid and right atrial tumor treated by thoracoscopic
By Crumbaker, Denise M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2010·Aspen Meadow Veterinary Specialists, United States·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Thoracoscopic subtotal pericardiectomy and right atrial mass resection in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old spayed female Corgi mix was brought to the vet after showing signs of lethargy and gaining weight over three weeks. The vet found that her heart sounds were muffled and her abdomen was swollen with fluid. Tests revealed a mass on her heart and fluid around it, leading to an initial procedure to drain the fluid. A week later, the mass was surgically removed, and although it was diagnosed as a type of cancer (hemangiosarcoma), the dog received chemotherapy afterward. She lived for about six months before being euthanized due to complications from the cancer spreading.
People also search for: dog lethargy and weight gain · Corgi heart mass treatment · hemangiosarcoma in dogs
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 10-year-old spayed female Corgi mix was examined for a 3-week history of lethargy and weight gain. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Physical examination findings included muffled heart sounds and a distended abdomen with a fluid wave on ballottement. Thoracic radiography revealed a globoid cardiac silhouette, and thoracic ultrasonography indicated pericardial effusion and a pedunculated mass originating from the right auricle. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Initial treatment consisted of pericardiocentesis. One week later, thoracoscopic right atrial mass resection was performed. No surgical complications were noted, and the dog was discharged approximately 28 hours after surgery. Results of histologic examination of the mass indicated a grade 2 hemangiosarcoma with incomplete margins. Treatment with doxorubicin was initiated 35 days after surgery. The dog survived for 177 days after mass resection, when it was euthanized because of complications related to metastatic disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings suggested that thoracoscopic right atrial mass removal combined with adjunct doxorubicin treatment may be a viable alternative to thoracotomy in dogs with right atrial masses.
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/20807133/