Case Study

Gastric Trichobezoar in a 13 year old FS DLH cat

This 13-year-old FS DLH cat was presented for occasional vomiting over the last 1.5 years. Clinical exam and blood analysis were unremarkable.

This 13-year-old FS DLH cat was presented for occasional vomiting over the last 1.5 years. Clinical exam and blood analysis were unremarkable.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Suspect partially or intermittently obstructing, minimally dense foreign gastric material (i.e. hairball, cloth, paper).

Image Interpretation

The pylorus is moderately distended with echogenic material with dirty distal acoustic shadowing. On the longitudinal view, the material is ovoid to fusiform.

DX

Tricobezoar. Lymphoplasmacytic gastritis with helicobacter.

Outcome

The patient responded well to surgery and still occasionally vomits but is responsive to treatment for inflammatory bowel disease and helicobacter infection.

Comments

No further outcome.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

GI pathology – Chronic trichobezoar, gastroenteritis, IBD, dietary intolerance, Helicobacter, neoplasia; pancreatic pathology- pancreatitis; hyperthyroidism, .

Sampling

Surgical biopsies revealed moderate lymphoplasmacytic gastritis with helicobacter infection. A large trichobezoar was removed from the gastric fundus. The changes were localized within the mucosa with no evident pathology in the submucosa or muscularis.