Case of the week 2.24.20
Publication Date: 2020-02-21
History
7 year old golden retriever. Male castrated. 24 hour of lethargy
3 images
Findings
Opposite lateral and VD views are available.
The patient is moderately overweight and has a moderate amount of mediastinal fat.
Pleural fissure lines are visible as well as mild scalloping and retraction of the lung margins, indicating mild pleural effusion. .
The cardiac silhouette has a globoid shape. The pulmonary vasculature is normal. The caudal vena cava is minimally distended.
A mild bronchial interstitial pattern is present likely represents age-related changes.
Incidental spondylosis deformans is seen along the C7-T1 intervertebral disc space
Diagnosis
Globoid cardiac silhouette is consistent with pericardial effusion; differentials include idiopathic pericardial effusion, neoplasia (e.g. right atrial hemangiosarcoma, chemodectoma, mesothelioma) or coagulopathies; given the moderately distended caudal vena cava and abdominal effusion ca
rdiac tamponade with resulting right-sided heart failure is considered. Mild pleural effusion, most likely secondary to the previously performed thoracocentesis.
An abdominal ultrasound and echocardiogram are recommended for further evaluation.
Discussion
An echocardiogram was performed which revealed no evidence of a cardiac mass. The patient underwent a pericardectomy.
About 18 months later, the patient died from an unrelated cause.
Note
Case originally seen by Dr de Swarte
Files