Echocardiographic, thoracic ultrasonographic, and CTA diagnosis of pericardial neoplasia in a dog

Abstract

A 12‐year‐old male neutered Yorkshire Terrier presented for coughing and respiratory distress. Transthoracic echocardiography initially misdiagnosed the patient with pericardial effusion; repeat echocardiography increased suspicion for neoplasia. A definitive diagnosis was not apparent. Findings on thoracic computed tomography and thoracic ultrasound were consistent with a diffusely thickened, heterogenous, hypoechoic soft tissue structure surrounding the heart. Fine needle aspirates were obtained using ultrasound guidance and routine cytology of the intrapericardial mass was consistent with neoplasia, with pericardial mesothelioma most likely. These novel findings highlight the importance of thoracic ultrasound and potential limitations of echocardiography in diagnosis of pericardial neoplasia.

Multidetector‐row CT features and histopathological analysis of pericardial recesses in dogs

“…the cranial mediastinal, tracheobronchial, aortic thoracic), that can be found in the middle/cranial mediastinum at different locations relatively to the aortic arch; the thymus, located in the cranial mediastinum with a triangular shape with the tip next to the ventral aspect of the cranial surface of the heart; the cranial part of the esophagus, that usually crosses the mediastinum on the left side at the level of the heart base next to the aortic arch; and cystic‐appearing lesions (congenital, infectious, or neoplastic) originating from the pericardium itself or other mediastinal structures (i.e., bronchogenic, esophageal, neurenteric, pericardial, and thymic cysts or tumors). In the veterinary radiology literature, the description of the pericardium using CT is reported in some pathological conditions, such as effusion, 10 neoplastic or inflammatory changes of the serous layers 11 or hernia 12 . Imaging studies of the normal CT appearance of the pericardium and of PRs in dogs are lacking.…”