Echocardiographic findings and clinical signs in dairy cows with primary cardiac lymphoma: 7 cases (2007–2010)

Abstract

To describe echocardiographic and clinical findings in cattle with cardiac manifestation of lymphoma. Retrospective case series. 7 adult Holstein dairy cows with cardiac lymphoma. Medical and necropsy records of all cows that underwent transthoracic echocardiography from January 2007 through April 2010 because of clinical signs of cardiac diseases or bovine lymphoma were reviewed. The diagnosis of cardiac manifestation of lymphoma was confirmed by necropsy examination or cytologic evaluation of pericardial fluid obtained by pericardiocentesis. Most commonly, cows had clinical signs of right-sided congestive heart failure secondary to cardiac tamponade with moderate to severe anechoic pericardial effusion (5/7 cows). In 2 cows, tachycardia was the only clinical sign in relation to cardiac disease and a heterogenic mass was observed protruding into the right atrium. The use of transthoracic echocardiography aided in the diagnosis of primary cardiac lymphoma in cows. Transthoracic echocardiography may help to quantify the severity of pericardial effusion and to orient needle placement for pericardiocentesis to determine a final diagnosis. A mass within the right atrium was also suggestive of cardiac lymphoma and should be differentiated from mural bacterial endocarditis.