Bates body

Adrien Hespel

Publication Date: 2016-05-03

Details

Service Radiology

Modality: Radiographs

Species: Feline

Area: Abdomen

History

7 year domestic short hair cat. Health check before dental procedure. Otherwise bright alert and responsive.

Findings

Orthogonal radiographs of the abdomen are available for interpretation.

There is good serosal detail within the abdominal cavity. Within the peritoneum there are two round well defined mildly irregularly marginated structures with outer shell mineralization. These structures appear freely movable between the two right lateral projections.

Incidentally there is a mild amount of ventral spondylosis at the level of the caudal thoracic vertebrae, the thoraco-lumbar and lumbo-sacral junction. On the left lateral projection there is also a small amount of mineralization superimposed with one of the stifle joint. The caudal aspect of the thorax available for interpretation is considered to be within normal limits for the age and breed of the patient.

Quizz

1. What are these structures with outer shell mineralization and what is the most appropriate next step

   a	These are resorbed and mummified feti. These should be surgically removed. No :)
   b	These are radioopaque foreign bodies which have perforated the intestines. These should urgently be removed surgically. No :)
   c	These are foci of necrotic fat. These should be ignored Yes !!! :D
   d	These are ballistic fragments. These should be removed surgically and ballistic analysis be conducted to identify the shooter No :)

Diagnosis

The two structures freely movable in the peritoneum are dystrophic calcification of mesenteric fat, also known as “Bates bodies”. These are incidental.

Meniscal mineralization likely to indicate degenerative changes within the medial compartment of that stifle.

Mild incidental ventral spondylosis

Notes