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Correspondence to Dr I. del Busto; [email protected]
Background
Chemodectoma is a rarely diagnosed tumour in cats, with only 12 cases reported to date. This is the first report of a chemodectoma causing lymphocyte-rich effusion in a cat. Information available in the literature regarding chemodectomas in cats is very limited, with only 13 cases published to date. This case had similarities to the previously reported cases; therefore, it provides further information about this rare neoplasm. Furthermore, it should be included as one of the possible causes of lymphocyte-rich effusion in the cat. The heart base mass reported here was suspected to be an aortic body chemodectoma, which developed as a single tumour, not related to other neoplasms. The behaviour of this tumour varies, in this patient this was a malignant neoplasm, extending into the inter-ventricular septum. The clinical signs were due to mechanical compression over adjacent structures, as previously reported in other cases, resulting in a chylothorax. The long-term prognosis was poor. There was no evidence of chronic hypoxia as an aetiological role for this patient, as identified in human beings and dogs.
Case presentation
A 13-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat presented to a primary care veterinarian with a history of acute dyspnoea. On physical examination tachycardia and a left-sided heart murmur were noted. Thoracic radiography was performed showing pleural effusion; subsequently 300 ml milky pleural effusion was drained via thoracocentesis. The nucleated cell count was 1×10e9/l, and the majority of the cells were small lymphocytes (70 per cent), cytological analysis was consistent with a lymphocytic-rich effusion, suspected chylothorax.
The patient was prescribed furosemide (2 mg/kg orally every 12 hours) and pimobendan (0.25 mg/kg orally every 24 hours) due to the suspicion of congestive heart failure. The cat was then referred to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital at the University of Liverpool for further assessment.
On presentation following referral, the cat weighed 3.1 kg and was in very poor body condition (2/9). Mucous membranes were pink and tacky, skin turgor was decreased. Clinical dehydration of approximately 5 per cent was presumed. Capillary refill time was two seconds. Thoracic auscultation revealed mild tachycardia; heart rate 200 bpm. There was a grade III/VI systolic left parasternal heart murmur. Respiratory rate and pattern were within normal limits. Pulmonary...