title: Chylothorax associated with cryptococcal mediastinal granuloma in a cat.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706.
authors.forename: Richard L.
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Meadows
authors.forename: Peter S.
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: MacWilliams
authors.forename: Gladstone
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dzata
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meinen