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A 15‐year‐old domestic cat presented with restrictive dyspnoea and pyrexia. Thoracic radiographs and computed tomography (CT) revealed a caudal mediastinal paraesophageal empyema associated with pyothorax, pleuritis and pericardial effusion. No foreign body was visible. The bacteriology was positive for Fusobacterium nucleatum. Medical treatment was initiated and consisted of bilateral drainage/lavage of the pleural cavity and intravenous amoxicillin/clavulanic acid followed by oral administration. A second CT scan performed on Day 7 showed regression of the lesion and confirmed the effectiveness of the medical treatment. Thoracic drains were removed on Day 8, and antibiotic treatment stopped 3 weeks postdiagnosis. A CT scan performed at 6 weeks postdiagnosis revealed complete regression of the lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of lung lobe torsion in dogs is usually based on radiological, endoscopic, and CT features. Few ultrasonographic descriptions have been published. The purpose of this multicenter, retrospective, and prospective observational study was to investigate the presence of a hypoechoic area forming a pulmonary band or line at the periphery of the twisted lobe on ultrasonography and assess its significance by comparing it to CT and histological findings. Fifteen dogs with lung lobe torsion confirmed surgically or postmortem were included. All had received ultrasonography and CT examinations; 13 had additional histopathological examination performed. In 14 cases, thoracic ultrasonography revealed a peripheral hypoechoic band, overlying areas of scattered, hyperreflecting interfaces in the affected lobe. On CT, central emphysema was surrounded by a peripheral, soft tissue attenuation band, affecting the periphery in 14 cases. No band was observed in one case, in which the lobe was entirely consolidated. Histological examination yielded a comparable peripheral band, consisting of a thickened visceral pleura with or without hemorrhagic necrosis of the underlying pulmonary parenchyma. This peripheral band may be related to the specific fractal organization of airways and vessels, which plays an important role in lung perfusion and ventilation and makes the lung periphery more prone to ischemia. Our findings suggest that the presence of a peripheral hypoechoic band, associated with central emphysema in a noncollapsed lung lobe on ultrasonography, is suggestive of compromised blood supply and air flow, and lung lobe torsion should therefore be suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A four‐year‐old female French bulldog was presented for evaluation of acute, left‐sided peripheral vestibular syndrome. Computed tomographic (CT) examination of the head revealed the presence of air within the left cochlea and vestibule, consistent with pneumolabyrinth. This was concurrent with ipsilateral otitis media and externa. Pneumolabyrinth is an uncommon finding in humans and is most frequently due to head trauma and temporal bone fracture. This is the first report describing pneumolabyrinth in a dog, apparently of nontraumatic origin in this case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives We aimed to (1) evaluate how frequently the uterus and ovaries of healthy, non-pregnant queens are visible; (2) describe their appearance; (3) take their measurements; and (4) determine intra- and inter-observer variabilities in their measurements. We hypothesised that, using a high-frequency linear probe, the uterus and ovaries could be ultrasonographically visualised during any period of the sexual cycle and with any level of operator expertise. Methods Eight queens were enrolled in the study and the ultrasonographical appearance of their uterus and ovaries assessed with a high-frequency linear probe of 15–19 MHz. The diameter of the uterine horns, body and cervix in transverse and longitudinal sections, and the length of the ovaries were recorded. Three observers of different expertise level participated in the study, and the differences between the separate measurements made per queen were evaluated. Results The ovaries and the entire uterus were visualised in every queen. The ovaries were ovoid structures with submillimetric follicles during anoestrus and additional larger follicles depending on the stage of the cycle. An ovarian pattern suggesting cortex and medulla was observed in half the cases. In the uterus, the serosa was a thin hyperechoic outer rim, and layering was observed in half the cases. The cervix was difficult to identify. The intra- and inter-observer variabilities in the uterine horns and the ovaries were minimal (coefficient of variation [CV] 1.4–4.1%) compared with the differences within the queens (CV 10.9–43.4%). The longitudinal and transverse measurements of the horns and the uterine body were the same. Conclusions and relevance The ovaries and uterine horns in queens are accessible ultrasonographically at any stage of their cycle, and can be measured with low intra- and inter-observer variabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]