Thoracic foreign body with tracking sinuses in a Springer Spaniel
This poor chap had suffered ‘pyrexia of unknown origin’ for the best part of a year prior to this episode. Despite thorough investigation, a definite diagnosis remained elusive. Until he blew up a new lump on his left flank.
That looks pretty consistent with an abscess doesn’t it? But no sign of anything foreign that I could see. Furthermore a thorough hunt around the abdomen revealed nothing abnormal.
But, just to prove that you should always check the chest too:
There’s a small but definite effusion in the left hemithorax.
and on the right:
…there is a large, messy area of consolidated lung surrounded by hyperechoic ‘material’.
longitudinal view from under the left costal arch showing the diaphragm and caudal part of the left thorax.
It’s prudent to be wary of over-interpreting this kind of thing but there is certainly a suspicion of a ‘pointy’, hyperechoic foreign body in the thorax close to the diaphragm. A grass seed could look very much like this…..
Ultimately he underwent exploratory thoracotomy with various consolidated pieces being excised. On histopath the presence of plant material and bacterial colonies was confirmed. At present he is doing well.
