Pyothorax

Allison Zwingenberger

University of California Davis

Publication Date: 2010-05-07

Patient

History

8 year old FS DSH cat. Lethargic, weight loss, increased respiratory rate for 3 days.

Findings

There is uniform opacification of the cranioventral thorax. Several short airbronchograms to the cranial lung lobes are identified on the lateral projections. There is poor visualization of the cardiovascular structures on all projections. There is evidence of a mild pneumothorax with multiple gas bubbles present throughout the thorax. These may be located in the pleural space or within the lungs. There is evidence of pleural thickening at one of the partially retracted caudal lung lobes.

DDx

Moderate pleural effusion with ventral and cranial uniform soft tissue / fluid opacity suspected to represent loculated fluid. The cranial lung lobes are not well visualized but are suspected to be atelectic based on the air bronchograms identified on this study. Pleural thickening suggests of an inflammatory nature of the effusion. Mild pneumothorax, which may be iatrogenic or secondary to pulmonary rupture or abscessation. These findings are consistent with pyothorax.

Diagnosis

• Pyothorax (no organisms cultured)
• Thoracic fluid - Marked purulent septic exudate with evidence of prior and ongoing hemorrhage