Anomalous drainage of the caudal vena cava into the left atrium and duplication of the posthepatic caudal vena cava in a cat diagnosed with CT

Abstract

A six‐year and six‐month‐old male neutered British Shorthair cat was referred for investigation of chronic thrombocytopenia and anaemia. On presentation, the cat was dull; however, physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. Complete blood count revealed moderate regenerative anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Serum biochemistry revealed hyperglycaemia. Thoracic radiographs showed two soft tissue opaque masses in the right cranial to mid thorax and in the left caudal lung lobe. CT revealed a multicameral soft tissue attenuating mass in the right cranial and middle lung lobes and an abnormal region of soft tissue attenuation in the left caudal lung lobe. It also revealed anomalous drainage of the caudal vena cava into the left atrium, generalised pulmonary vascular congestion, duplication of the posthepatic caudal vena cava and a suspect gastrophrenic portosystemic shunt.