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Feline (Domestic Shorthair) · Radiograph — Thorax
Imaging findings
Large volume of homogeneous soft tissue opacity within the pleural space bilaterally, causing marked retraction of the lung lobes from the thoracic cavity wall.
Diagnosis
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Pleural effusion (pyothorax)
Confirmed
- Species
- Feline
- Breed
- Domestic Shorthair
- Age
- 15 years
- Sex
- Male neutered
- Weight
- 4.7 kg
- Level
- Vet student and tech
What happened with the patient
Thoracocentesis fluid cytology showed suppurative inflammation with intracellular and extracellular bacteria. The owner opted for humane euthanasia.
Key take-home points
All pleural effusions look alike on radiographs. Thoracocentesis identifies the fluid type, and in a dyspneic patient it should usually come before imaging.
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
31 cases
Educational use only — not clinical advice.
Cite this case
Ofer O. Pleural effusion (pyothorax). Radabase case da94a90b. Retrieved 2026-09-25 from https://www.radabase.vet/case/da94a90b-7e6d-49bb-b2b7-e25833d1f67c