- Veterinary View Box
- Posts
- Cats get it too
Yewon Ji 1, Minjoo Kim 2, Bumseok Kim 3, Sang-Ik Oh 3, Byungkwan Oh 3, Hakyoung Yoon 1
Background:
Aortic dissection (AD) is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by separation of aortic wall layers, reported infrequently in veterinary medicine. While systemic hypertension and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) phenotype are recognized risk factors in humans, similar associations have been noted in a few feline cases. This report presents a detailed clinical, imaging, and post-mortem analysis of aortic dissection in a cat, highlighting the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) in conjunction with echocardiography.
Methods:
An 11-year-old male neutered cat presented with dyspnea and was diagnosed with cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema. Echocardiography revealed features of AD, aortic insufficiency, left ventricular hypertrophy, and left atrial enlargement. Serial follow-ups included radiographs, thoracocentesis, and a CT scan three months post-diagnosis to evaluate progression. Post-mortem gross and histopathological examinations were conducted following the cat's sudden death ten weeks after the CT.
Results:
Initial echocardiography showed a false lumen compressing the true aortic lumen, with jet flow indicating communication between the two. CT confirmed a 2.7 mm wall defect at the aortic valve with a spiral, beak-shaped false lumen compressing the ascending aorta. The cat developed pericardial effusion, chylothorax, and renal impairment over the follow-up period. Post-mortem examination confirmed a full-thickness dissection and a false lumen larger than the true lumen. Histology revealed dissection at the tunica media, myocardial hypertrophy, and fibrosis consistent with HCM phenotype.
Limitations:
As a single-case report, the findings have limited generalizability. The absence of baseline cardiac data precludes definitive conclusions about the preexistence of HCM. Measurement discrepancies between CT and post-mortem findings may have resulted from imaging artifacts. The potential contribution of other undetected systemic or congenital factors could not be ruled out.
Conclusions:
This case is the first to document both CT and post-mortem findings of aortic dissection in a cat. The report underscores the diagnostic utility of CT in identifying AD and associated complications such as aortic calcification and chylothorax. Aortic dissection should be considered in cats with systemic hypertension, HCM phenotype, or unexplained thoracic effusions, and multimodal imaging is essential for accurate diagnosis and management planning.
Axial (A, B) and multi-plane reconstructed CT images (C-E) of the aortic dissection. The true lumen (black asterisk) and false lumen (black arrowhead) of the aorta connected through a defect suspected as a dissection (black arrow) was identified (A). The false lumen of the aorta (black arrowhead) and non-contrast enhanced lesion (white arrowhead) composing a beak-shaped lesion (B), which compresses the true lumen of the aorta from the axial and reconstructed images are shown (A, B, D, E). A pre-contrast reconstructed image shows aortic wall calcification (white arrow) from the aortic root to the ascending aorta (C). Note that the calcification is most prominent at the level of dissection. Panel D shows dissection compressing the true lumen of the aorta at the level of the aortic root. The connection between the true lumen and false lumen (asterisk) through a defect (black arrow) (E) on the dorsal image is shown. Marked pleural effusion is observed throughout the CT images. CT, computed tomography.
How did we do? |
Disclaimer: The summary generated in this email was created by an AI large language model. Therefore errors may occur. Reading the article is the best way to understand the scholarly work. The figure presented here remains the property of the publisher or author and subject to the applicable copyright agreement. It is reproduced here as an educational work. If you have any questions or concerns about the work presented here, reply to this email.