Use of a jugular vein autograft for reconstruction of the cranial vena cava in a dog with invasive thymoma and cranial vena cava syndrome

Abstract

A spayed female dog was evaluated because of edema of the ventral cervical region, lethargy, cough, and reduced exercise tolerance. Invasive thymoma and cranial vena cava syndrome were diagnosed by use of ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy and contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography. Resection of the cranial vena cava and an autogenous jugular vein graft were used for restoration of normal venous return to the right atrium and alleviation of the cranial vena cava syndrome.

Results of excision of thymoma in cats and dogs: 20 cases (1984–2005)

“…Thymomas can be associated with paraneoplastic syndromes in humans and animals, including MG, [30][31][32][33] megaesophagus, 1,[33][34][35] hypercalcemia, 1 polymyositis, exfoliative dermatitis, [36][37][38] cranial vena cava syndrome, 39,40 nonthymic cancers, cytopenias, glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroiditis. 5,27,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] Forty percent of affected dogs have been shown to have associated autoimmune syndromes such as acquired MG, polymyositis, and immune-mediated skin diseases.…”

Perioperative Mortality and Long‐Term Survival in 80 Dogs and 32 Cats Undergoing Excision of Thymic Epithelial Tumors

“…[9][10][11][12] Clinical signs may also result from paraneoplastic syndromes including myasthenia gravis 11,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] or polymyositis in dogs and cats, 19,24 hypercalcemia in dogs, 11,13,25,26 and exfoliative dermatitis in cats. 24,[27][28][29][30][31] Concurrent non-thymic cancers 11,18 and T-cell lymphocytosis 32 have also been reported in dogs.…”

Cranial mediastinal carcinomas in nine dogs*

“…One dog with invasion into the cranial vena cava and tumour thrombus formation had the tumour resected en bloc with a segment of the caval wall and tumour thrombus. This technique has been previously described in two dogs with invasive thymomas and highlights that invasive cranial mediastinal tumours are not necessarily unresectable 31,32 . The postoperative recovery in this series was typical for dogs following median sternotomy for resection of cranial mediastinal tumours, although the incidence of PTE was higher than that expected 21…”

“…This technique has been previously described in two dogs with invasive thymomas and highlights that invasive cranial mediastinal tumours are not necessarily unresectable. 31,32 The postoperative recovery in this series was typical for dogs following median sternotomy for resection of cranial mediastinal tumours, although the incidence of PTE was higher than that expected. 21 Radiation therapy is recommended as the primary treatment for dogs with invasive thyroid carcinomas and thymomas.…”