Computed Tomography Findings in Three Cases of Suspected Lymphovenous Communications in Cats.
5 affiliations
- 1DIVET Teleradiology, 46003 Valencia, Spain.
- 2Veterinary Referral Hospital UCV, 46018 Valencia, Spain.
- 3Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Experimental Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain.
- 4Doctoral School, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46002 Valencia, Spain.
- 5IDEXX Telemedicine Consultants, 70806 Kornwestheim, Germany.
Abstract
Pathological lymphovenous communications are poorly characterized in veterinary medicine, and their computed tomographic features and clinical significance remain unknown. This retrospective case series aimed to describe contrast-enhanced computed tomography findings of suspected spontaneous lymphovenous communications in three cats. All cats had dilated, tortuous vessels arising from portal venous tributaries and extending to the cisterna chyli, originating from the splenic vein in two cats and the cranial mesenteric vein in one. The cisterna chyli and thoracic duct were consistently dilated and contrast-enhancing, and reduced portal vein calibre cranial to the communications was present in all cats. Concurrent findings included pleural or peritoneal effusion and subcutaneous edema, with chylous pleural effusion confirmed in two cats. The recurrent anatomical distribution and associated portal and lymphatic abnormalities suggest that these communications may represent the enlargement and functional recruitment of pre-existing lymphovenous pathways in response to acquired portal and/or lymphatic hemodynamic disturbances, although a congenital origin cannot be excluded. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography may allow the recognition and anatomical characterization of suspected pathological lymphovenous communications in cats and should be considered when anomalous portal vessels are associated with concurrent cisterna chyli and thoracic duct abnormalities.
Related
- External Root Resorption: Unique Cone Beam Computed Tomography Findings of a Rare Radiographic Entity
- Plasma proteomic profiles associated with low-dose computed tomography findings and incident lung cancer: a prospective pilot study
- Computed tomography findings of a retroperitoneal chronic expanding hematoma with multiple hemangiomas: A case report and literature review
- Integration of computed tomography and endoscopic findings in identifying pseudoaneurysm rupture associated with duodenal penetration by pancreatic head cancer: A case report
- Presumed Paravertebral Inflammatory Pseudotumor in Relapsing Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Findings and Complete Metabolic Response to Rituximab-Based Therapy
BibTeX
@article{libranferreira2026computed,
title = {{Computed Tomography Findings in Three Cases of Suspected Lymphovenous Communications in Cats.}},
author = {Laura Librán-Ferreira and Iván Rodríguez-Armas and Carla Zamora-Perarnau and Nicolas Israeliantz and Vicente Cervera-Castellanos},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ani16203190},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42939121},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Computed Tomography Findings in Three Cases of Suspected Lymphovenous Communications in Cats.
AU - Laura Librán-Ferreira
AU - Iván Rodríguez-Armas
AU - Carla Zamora-Perarnau
AU - Nicolas Israeliantz
AU - Vicente Cervera-Castellanos
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/11
JO - Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
DO - 10.3390/ani16203190
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42939121
AB - Pathological lymphovenous communications are poorly characterized in veterinary medicine, and their computed tomographic features and clinical significance remain unknown. This retrospective case series aimed to describe contrast-enhanced computed tomography findings of suspected spontaneous lymphovenous communications in three cats. All cats had dilated, tortuous vessels arising from portal venous tributaries and extending to the cisterna chyli, originating from the splenic vein in two cats and the cranial mesenteric vein in one. The cisterna chyli and thoracic duct were consistently dilated and contrast-enhancing, and reduced portal vein calibre cranial to the communications was present in all cats. Concurrent findings included pleural or peritoneal effusion and subcutaneous edema, with chylous pleural effusion confirmed in two cats. The recurrent anatomical distribution and associated portal and lymphatic abnormalities suggest that these communications may represent the enlargement and functional recruitment of pre-existing lymphovenous pathways in response to acquired portal and/or lymphatic hemodynamic disturbances, although a congenital origin cannot be excluded. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography may allow the recognition and anatomical characterization of suspected pathological lymphovenous communications in cats and should be considered when anomalous portal vessels are associated with concurrent cisterna chyli and thoracic duct abnormalities.
SN - 2076-2615
ER -