Chylothorax associated with cryptococcal mediastinal granuloma in a cat.
A 10-year-old neutered female cat had chylothorax, precaval syndrome, and a mediastinal granuloma resulting from infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. Diagnosis of a chylous effusion was made by cytologic examination of pleural fluid and by finding higher triglyceride levels in the effusion than in serum (825 vs. 64 mg/dl, respectively). Postmortem examination revealed cryptococcal organisms in the mediastinal granuloma, lungs, cerebral meninges, and connective tissues adjacent to the thyroid gland. Chylous effusion in a cat associated with cryptococcosis has not been reported previously. Cryptococcosis should be included in the differential diagnosis in chylous effusions in cats.
Meadows
Richard L.
RL
Department of Pathological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706.
MacWilliams
Peter S.
PS
Dzata
Gladstone
G
Meinen
Jeffrey
J