A breathless feline: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of pleural effusion in an eight-year-old cat, a case report

Background: Pleural effusion in cats may arise from various causes, such as cardiac disease, infection, or neoplasia. Accurate identification of the underlying etiology is essential for selecting appropriate treatment and improving prognosis. Methods: An eight-year-old mixed Persian/Domestic Shorthair (DSH) cat presented with severe dyspnea and was evaluated using echocardiography, thoracic ultrasonography, and radiography. Cytological analysis of the pleural effusion was also performed to determine the possible etiology. Results: Echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion causing cardiac tamponade and left ventricular wall thickening, consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Thoracic ultrasonography demonstrated a loculated pleural effusion on the left side and several well-defined, round to oval hyperechoic masses attached to the thoracic wall, some of which were freely floating in the fluid without visible vascularization. Thoracic radiographs confirmed left-sided pleural effusion with an obscured cardiac silhouette and soft tissue opacity in the caudal lung lobe. Cytological evaluation of the pleural fluid suggested a possible mesothelioma or adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: Thoracentesis and histopathological examination were recommended to establish a definitive diagnosis. Although signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were present, cardiac failure alone could not fully explain the respiratory distress. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of pleural effusion in cats and emphasizes the importance of integrating cardiac and thoracic imaging with cytological analysis to distinguish between infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic causes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cat ، pleural effusion ، cardiac tamponade ، thoracic mass ، mesothelioma ، adenocarcinoma ، hypertrophic cardiomyopathy