Presentation
Presenting for a 7‑month history of cough, decreased appetite, weight loss, and a 5‑month history of increased respiratory rate and sound.
Patient Data
There is alveolar pulmonary pattern and complete consolidation of the accessory lung lobe, which extends to the right caudal lung lobe. There are nodules in the cranial and caudal lung lobes. The aerated lung lobes appear hyperinflated, giving the appearance of lifting the cardiac silhouette from the sternum. There are multiple thickened pleural fissure lines, but no overt effusion is noted.
Recheck radiographs showed improved inflation of the accessory lung lobe and right caudal lung lobe. The right caudal lung lobe has remaining alveolar pattern. There is a pulmonary nodule in the left caudal lung lobe.
Case Discussion
The nodules and alveolar pattern suggest an infectious inflammatory disease, such as fungal pneumonia. The dog was positive for coccidiodomycosis on serology. The inflation and pulmonary pattern improved with treatment but did not fully resolve. The dog was clinically improved.
DIfferential diagnoses for the lobar pattern in the accessory lobe and pulmonary nodules include infectious inflammatory disease (fungal pneumonia, migrating foreign body), and less likely neoplasia in a young dog. CT examination could be considered to further evaluate this region. A component of atelectasis was likely present to cause the small size of the affected lung lobes.
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.