title: Cranial mediastinal cysts in nine cats.
abstract: Nine cats, from 11 to 17 years of age (mean 13.6 years of age), were diagnosed with a cranial mediastinal cyst. Thoracic radiographs in all cats were characterized by an increased soft tissue opacity in the cranial mediastinum confirmed to be a cyst by ultrasonography or necropsy. Ultrasonographically cysts appeared as an anechoic mass. A low-cellularity clear fluid was obtained on aspiration. The majority of the cats (n = 8) presented for unrelated conditions with no signs of respiratory distress. No treatment for the cyst was pursued except for drainage during ultrasonographic-guided aspiration in several cats. On follow-up of eight cats, none were symptomatic for the cyst from 3-45 months after diagnosis. Mediastinal cyst should be considered when a cranial mediastinal mass is evident radiographically in an older cat. The majority of feline cranial mediastinal cysts are benign with no need for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zekas
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008476:Mediastinal Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013396:Suction / Q000662:veterinary; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000662:veterinary