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Feline (Burmese) · Ultrasound, Radiograph — Abdomen
Presenting complaint
A 5.5-year-old male castrated Burmese cat presented for a mass/swelling on the right side of the abdomen, lethargy, and decreased appetite. The patient had a history of vomiting that resolved with treatment. Right-sided abdominal swelling persisted despite antibiotic therapy, along with persistent lethargy, decreased appetite, and inappropriate urination.
Imaging findings
- On abdominal rads: Moderate soft tissue swelling is present within the right abdominal body wall, within the subcutaneous soft tissues.
- On subsequent ultrasound: Large, multicavitated, fluid-filled, and mass-like lesion is centered within the right lateral abdominal wall musculature, effacing the oblique and transversus abdominis layers. Marked volume of highly echogenic subcutaneous fluid interdigitates with fat. There is nondefinitive disruption of the abdominal wall with possible communication to the peritoneal space.
Diagnosis
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Right abdominal wall abscess with severe cellulitis
Highly suspected
- Species
- Feline
- Breed
- Burmese
- Age
- 5.5 years
- Sex
- Male neutered
- Weight
- 5.9 kg
- Level
- Radiologist
What happened with the patient
Ultrasound-guided drainage of the right abdominal wall lesion yielded 14 mL of purulent fluid. Culture grew Prevotella sp. and Pasteurella multocida.
Key take-home points
- Multifocal blood flow on color Doppler and superb microvascular imaging within a fluid-filled mass-like lesion may indicate active inflammation or vascularization, not just neoplasia.
- Ultrasound-guided aspiration of purulent fluid can provide immediate diagnostic information to differentiate an abscess from a solid mass.
Some fields on this case were drafted with AI assistance from the contributor's own report or dictation, then reviewed by the contributor and by a reviewer before publication. How we use AI.
Contributed by
- Oren Ofer
DVM, DVSc, DACVR
25 cases
Educational use only — not clinical advice.
Cite this case
Ofer O. Right abdominal wall abscess with severe cellulitis. Radabase case 3f812523. Retrieved 2026-09-23 from https://www.radabase.vet/case/3f812523-c7d5-420d-952f-ac09eece9961