– 18 year old MN DSH with history of GI signs and anorexia
– previously ultrasound performed several months ago consistent with IBD vs lymphoma GI pattern (no biopsy done)
– rDVM took recent chest radiographs due to concern of inappetence and was concerned about possible mediastinal mass; no resp signs noted
– abdominal u/s still consistent with GI IBD vs lymphoma pattern
– 18 year old MN DSH with history of GI signs and anorexia
– previously ultrasound performed several months ago consistent with IBD vs lymphoma GI pattern (no biopsy done)
– rDVM took recent chest radiographs due to concern of inappetence and was concerned about possible mediastinal mass; no resp signs noted
– abdominal u/s still consistent with GI IBD vs lymphoma pattern
– a distinct mass was not found in the mediastinum on ultrasound however several lung-rockets or comet-tail artifacts were seen in the cranial lung lobes; no LAE; no pleural or pericardial effusion
– caudal lung lobes normal with no lung rockets and normal glide sign
– the heart and aorta on x-ray to me look like old cat heart findings
– what may be the significance of the lung rockets in the cranial lung? interstitial disease – fluid, inflammatory cells, neoplasia?
Comments
Yet again another interesting
Yet again another interesting case. I’m following this since I just had yesterday a very similar case. However, cat is coughing, otherwise fine. I do see in your X-rays a different scenario from mine is is the cranial mediastinum opacity that was mentioned in your post. I would believe that it looks more radiopaque than I would expect and it appears to look mass-like. But I might be totally wrong. I could not scan my case cause owners didn’t want, but I thought it would likely look like your rockets. Or not… I’m interested to hear some input. Finally, I think if there was a mass in cranial mediastinum ( I’m actually thinking a LN), I would assume it would be rather difficult to see due to lung shadow unless effusion?
Great post, I’m following.
Thanks GCSM – I was wondering
Thanks GCSM – I was wondering too if something could be hidden by the lung artifact
To me this appears to be a
To me this appears to be a cranial mediastinal mass.
I recently found this little “gem” that describes lung ultrasound. It is meant for human ICU training – but describes the normal pattern as welll as artifact and pathological findings.
Small section from the article refering to the “comet tail” or B lines:
“These interfaces yield, on the screen, a narrow-based laser-like ray extending to the edge of the screen. At the surface of the lung, the prominent element is air. Its acoustic impedance is very different from that of bone, parenchyma , and water. Bony tissues are not expected to be found at the surface of the lung. Normal lung contains predominantly air and little water, the comet-tail artifact described has the following features: it is related to a small water-rich structure, below the resolution of the ultrasound beam (which is about 1 mm), surrounded by air (resulting in a high impedance gradient). It is absent under normal conditions and present in alveolar-interstitial syndromes. This element has to be present at and all over the surface of the lung, and each element is separated from each other by an average distance of 7 mm. It is frequently found in the last intercostal space in normal subjects. Acute pulmonary edema as well as chronic interstitial disease cause “the artifact.” “
Thanks Randy
I have
Thanks Randy
I have definitely seen this in CHF patients with pulmonary edema but this cat does not have heart disease – so something else in the interstitium
Thanks Randy
I have
Thanks Randy
I have definitely seen this in CHF patients with pulmonary edema but this cat does not have heart disease – so something else in the interstitium
Looks like old lung
Looks like old lung consolidation, no vascular congestion and heart is age related rotation and prominent aorta. Old asthma cat?