Enhancment of lymphatics after IV contrast in cats

VRU 2023 64(4): 625-631

January 10, 2024

Background: The authors investigated the phenomenon of spontaneous contrast enhancement (SCE) of the lymphatic system in cats, which is a rare finding in computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Methods: They performed delayed non-selective contrast-enhanced CT scans on 20 cats with various diseases and compared them with 20 healthy cats. They evaluated the presence, distribution, and intensity of SCE in the lymphatic system of the cats.

Results: They found that SCE was present in 12 diseased cats and none of the healthy cats. The most common sites of SCE were the mediastinal and abdominal lymph nodes, followed by the thoracic duct and the cisterna chyli. The intensity of SCE was variable and correlated with the degree of lymphatic dilation and inflammation.

Limitations: The study was limited by the small sample size, the lack of histopathological confirmation of the lymphatic lesions, and the lack of standardized criteria for defining and quantifying SCE.

Conclusions: The authors concluded that delayed non-selective contrast-enhanced CT can reveal SCE of the lymphatic system in cats, which may reflect lymphatic dysfunction and pathology. They suggested that SCE could be a useful diagnostic marker for lymphatic diseases in cats.

Sagittal reconstruction from delayed post-contrast intravenous series showing diffuse enhancement of the lymphatic system in two feline patients (A, B). A, Images acquired with 16-row MDCT unit (Siemens Emotion 16) (Slice thickness 1,5 mm; WW 402; WL 109). 1- thoracic duct; 2- hepatic lymph vessels; 3- celiac trunk; 4- cisterna chyli; 5- mesenteric lymph vessels. B, Images acquired with Dual-source CT 192 × 2 (Siemens Somatom Force) volume rendered (Slice thickness 0,6 mm; WW 300; WL 40). 1- thoracic duct; 2- celiac trunk; 3- mesenteric trunk; 4- cisterna chyli; 5- lumbar trunks.

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