Fibrotic myopathy of the iliopsoas muscle in a dog.

Fibrotic myopathy of the iliopsoas muscle developed in a dog, following extensive migration of a grass awn within the muscle and adjacent subcutaneous tissue. The dog was initially presented for evaluation of a fluctuant swelling over the right flank region. The clinical and imaging findings were suggestive of iliopsoas fibrotic myopathy and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. This is the third report of iliopsoas fibrotic myopathy in a dog, the first report to describe the postmortem pathologic changes and the first report of iliopsoas fibrotic myopathy subsequent to foreign body migration.

Thoracoscopic-assisted lung lobectomy in the dog: report of two cases.

The benefits and application of thoracoscopy with selective ventilation, as an adjunct to thoracotomy, in facilitating pleural exploration and lung lobectomy in two dogs are presented. Similar thoracoscopic-assisted procedures are commonly used in human patients because there is better exposure and they are technically less demanding than thoracoscopy alone, while causing less postoperative morbidity than conventional thoracotomy. There are no previous reports of thoracoscopic-assisted surgery in the veterinary literature. In the cases described, thoracoscopic-assisted mini-thoracotomy was an effective, minimally-invasive approach for ipsilateral hemithorax exploration and lung lobectomy.

Nasal vascular hamartoma in a Domestic Shorthair cat.

A nasal mass in a Domestic Shorthair cat was causing facial deformity, sneezing and intermittent epistaxis. Biopsy samples obtained previously had been non-diagnostic. Computed tomography images revealed an irregular, contrast-enhancing mass occupying a large portion of the righthand side of the nasal cavity. Previously described criteria for malignancy were not present. A ventral surgical approach combined with temporary, ipsilateral, common carotid arterial occlusion provided excellent access for debulking the lesion and collecting samples for histopathology. A nasal vascular hamartoma was diagnosed and clinical signs resolved postoperatively. This is the first documentation of this abnormality in the cat. Hamartomatous abnormalities should be included on the list of differential diagnoses for feline nasal mass lesions. The prognosis for hamartomatous lesions postoperatively is good, in keeping with their limited propensity for growth after maturity.

Cumulative effects of cardiovascular disease risk factors on quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: The Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess the quality of life for adults who differed in level of risk for cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Subjects were 51 men and 80 women from southwestern Ohio between the ages of 20 and 86 years. Individuals level of risk was based on the culmination of four cardiovascular disease risk factors: hypertension (i.e., systolic BP>or=140 mmHg or diastolic BP>or= 90 mmHg), obesity (i.e., BMI>or=30), high cholesterol (i.e., total cholesterol>or=240 mg/dL), and presence/absence of smoking. RESULTS: Each risk factor was analyzed independently and cumulatively for effects on the SF-36 dimensions (i.e., Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, Mental Health). The data suggested that quality of life impairment (indicated by lower scores on the SF-36 dimensions) increased as the number of cardiovascular disease risk factors an individual had increased. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular disease risk factors unknown to the participants had differential effects on the SF-36 dimensions, and quality of life decreased as the number of risk factors individuals had increased.