Congenital peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in an geriatric Persian cat

Abstract

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) is a rare condition that is caused by defective diaphragm and pericardium development. It occurs in dogs and cats and is most prevalent in Weimaraner and Persian breeds. This study presents the first report of a congenital peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in a geriatric cat in Espírito Santo in Brazil. A 12-year old male Persian cat was referred to the veterinary hospital. Clinical examination revealed hyporexia, cachexia, alopecia, dyspnea, and an adherent and irregularly shaped nodule in the left caudal breast. Cytopathological examination of the abdominal nodulation revealed a mammary carcinoma. Thoracic radiography revealed PPDH. The animal was euthanized. On necropsy, the abdominal cavity revealed a part of the liver inside the diaphragm, and the thoracic view revealed the heart and liver inside the pericardial sac. Histopathological analysis confirmed mammary carcinoma and revealed dermatophytic pseudomycetoma. This is the first report of PPDH, which was incidentally detected, in a geriatric Persian cat that had survived for several years without diagnosis in Espírito Santo, Brazil. From the observations made, we conclude that comprehensive clinical examination, involving imaging, is important in detecting congenital abnormalities such as PPDH.

Surgical treatment of a circumferential oesophagogastric mass associated with a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in a Maine Coon cat

“…Evidence-based medicine for feline PPDH is limited to case reports or small sample size retrospective studies; therefore, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic techniques is scarce and the superiority of medical vs surgical management of cats with PPDH is controversial. 1 – 3 , 5 – 7 , 13 , 14 , 29 , 30 In the case reported herein, the associated oesophagogastric mass was presumed to be the underlying cause for the clinical signs noted. Therefore, the authors considered this patient a legitimate candidate for surgical herniorrhaphy to prevent further complications.…”

“… 1 The prevalence of PPDH has been reported to be 0.06–0.6% in cats. 1 – 4 It is one of the most common congenital cardiac defects diagnosed in cats over 1 year of age; 1 – 3 , 5 – 7 however, its aetiology is still not fully understood. In humans, PPDH may occur as a result of trauma or be a congenital anomaly, whereas, in cats, traumatic PPDH does not occur as the pericardium and diaphragm are not connected.…”

“…This malformation allows the passage of abdominal contents through the diaphragmatic hernia into the pericardial sac. 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 9 – 13 The most common herniated organs in cats with PPDH are the liver, gallbladder and small intestine. 5 …”

“…This malformation allows the passage of abdominal contents through the diaphragmatic hernia into the pericardial sac. 1,3,5,6,[9][10][11][12][13] The most common herniated organs in cats with PPDH are the liver, gallbladder and small intestine. 5 Breeds reported to have a higher incidence of PPDH include Maine Coons, Himalayans and Persians.…”

Eventración paracostal en felino: Reporte de un caso

“…O uso da ultrassonografia auxiliou no diagnóstico definitivo de eventração, sendo descartado o diagnóstico sugestivo de hérnia diafragmática, pois possibilitou a visualização de parte do fígado em região anatômica anormal de sua topografia, além de se verificar a integridade da musculatura diafragmática, assim como descrito por Souza et al (2004) que relatam o uso dos achados ultrassonográficos para realização de diagnóstico diferencial de hérnia e por Archanjo et al (2020) e Thrall (2013) que relatam o uso da ultrassonografia para confirmação diagnóstica.…”