Page 431 - Atlas of Small Animal CT and MRI

Mediastinum and esophagus 421

Figure 4.3.16 Paresophageal Abscess (Canine) CT

(a) CT, TP (b) CT+C, TP (c) CT+C, TP

(d) CT+C, MIP, SP (e) US, OP
5y FS Dalmation with lethargy, vomiting, and respiratory distress. Thoracic radiographs revealed a caudal thoracic mass. There is a well‐
defined, encapsulated, fluid‐attenuating (approx. 35 HU), ovoid mass within the caudodorsal mediastinum (a: arrow). The gas‐containing
esophagus is seen as an eccentrically located crescent‐shaped structure adjacent to the mass (a: arrowhead). The thick peripheral capsule of
the mass moderately enhances following contrast administration, but the central part of the mass remains unchanged (b–d). The right mid­
dle lung lobe is volume depleted with associated increased attenuation (c: arrowhead). The mass is fluid filled and thick walled on ultrasound
examination (e). A definitive diagnosis of chronic encapsulated paraesophageal bacterial abscess was based on excisional biopsy.

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