Diaphgramatic hernia and pregnancy

Adrien Hespel

Publication Date: 2016-03-13

Details

Service Radiology

Modality: Radiographs

Species: Feline

Area: Thorax

History

Female feral cat, scheduled to go undergo elective spay. In respiratory distress after the physical exam.

Findings

Due to the severe respiratory compromise of the patient single lateral view of the thorax and abdomen were acquired. Within the thoracic cavity, there is a large amount of mixed heterogeneous soft tissue material containing numerous gas lucencies, most of them being tubular. The trachea and tracheal bifurcation are displaced dorsally. There is retraction of the lung lobes with underlying severe interstitial to early alveolar pattern. The margins of the diaphragm are not visible and overall there is a cranial shift of the abdominal organs. The majority of the abdominal cavity is filled with a large well-defined multilobulated structure which is cranial to the urinary bladder and ventral to the colon. Within that soft tissue structure, there are faint areas of mineralization. The musculoskelettal system is overall within normal limits.

Diagnosis

Diaphragmatic hernia with most of the gastrointestinal tract as well as at least the liver within the thorax. Uterine enlargement with presence of mineralization most consistent with pregnancy.

1. At what age do you start to see fetal mineralization in the cat ?

   a	18 days Too soon
   b	28 days Too soon
   c	38 days Right on !
   d	48 days Too late :)You will likely already the skull and spine by that time
   e	58 days Too late :)The feti should be almost fully mineralized at this point

Notes

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