Case Study

Bladder sand and thickened small intestine in a 10 year old MN DSH cat

A 10-year-old NM DSH was presented for evaluation of vomiting. CBC showed thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Urinary bladder sand and undefined thickened small intestine. Possibilities include emerging lymphoma, inflammatory bowel disease, mast cell disease, or dry form FIP.

Image Interpretation

The urinary bladder presented approximately 2.0 cm of mildly shadowing sand and suspended debris. The bladder wall appeared largely normal with minor areas of thickening. The small intestine was thickened.

DX

Bladder sand and thickened small intestine

Outcome

The patient was euthanized.

Comments

Ideally cystotomy, bladder lavage, sand recovery, and culture of the bladder wall would be performed. Biopsy and resection of the thickened portion of intestine (likely jejunum) should be considered, but neoplasia is suspected. Guarded prognosis.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

GI pathology – non-specific gastroenteritis (viral, bacterial, helminths, protozoal, toxins), dietary, foreign body, neoplasia, focal perforation with peritonitis, infarction, stenosis. Pancreatic disease – pancreatitis, neoplasia. Cholangiohepatitis complex.