Veterinary Medicine - September 2007 - (Page 583)

mucoceles that were surgically repaired were included in this case series. Seven cats met these criteria. PROCEDURES AND RESULTS Each cat’s history; signalment; physical examination, complete blood count (CBC), and serum chemistry profile results (when available); clinical signs; treatment; and outcome were identified and recorded. The signalment and location and surgical correction of the mucoceles for the seven cats are shown in Table 1. which was suspected to be due to feline infectious peritonitis. In five cats, the sublingual gland was involved, and the mucocele formed a ranula. In two of these cats, the ranula was large enough to cause respiratory stridor, but neither cat exhibited severe respiratory distress on presentation. Other clinical signs associated with the ranula included intermittent vomiting, ptyalism, and lethargy. In one cat (case 5), the mass was an incidental finding, with no clinical signs evident. History Three of the cats were periodically allowed outdoors, and four were strictly indoor cats. Five of the seven cats had been seen by a referring veterinarian and treated with antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin trihydrateclavulanate potassium) with no improvement of clinical signs. Diagnostic test results CBC results showed mild, normocytic, normochromic anemia and mild thrombocytopenia in one cat (case 2). Serum chemistry profiles revealed mildly elevated alanine aminotransferase activity in two cats (cases 1 & 5), an elevated glucose concentration in one cat (case 1), and elevated aspartate aminotransferase activity in one cat (case 1). Skull and thoracic radiographic examination results were unremarkable in two cats (cases 1 & 5); radiography was not done in the other five cats. Fine-needle aspiration of the mass was performed in all seven cats. In all cases, a stringy, mucoid substance consistent with saliva was aspirated from the mass, and a salivary mucocele was tentatively diagnosed. Physical examination findings The mass was detected by careful physical examination in all cases. Five cats had a unilateral, nonpainful, fluctuant sublingual swelling, extending from the mandibular symphysis to the vertical ramus. In the other two cats, one had a unilateral, nonpainful, fluctuant cervical swelling, and the other had a soft, fluctuant, nonpainful 2-cm mass on the right buccal mucosal surface opposite the fourth premolar and first molar. Except for the masses, the physical examination findings were unremark- Treatment Surgical treatment consisted of removing the entire mandibular-sublingual In two of these cats, the ranula was large enough to cause respiratory stridor. able in all but one of the cats (case 7). The cat with a cervical mass (sublingual mucocele) exhibited ataxia consistent with diffuse cerebellar disease, salivary chain on the affected side with mucocele marsupialization (cases 1 & 2), marsupialization alone (cases 3 & 6), excising the mucocele through an oral VETERINARY MEDICINE September 2007 583 http://virbacvet.com http://virbacvet.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - September 2007

Contents Letters Leading Off The Veterinary Medicine Interview: Dr. William J. Kay Idea Exchange Practical Matters Salivary Mucoceles in Cates: A Retropspective Study of Seven Cases Hyperlipidemia in Dogs and Cats Purina Insert The Latest Management Recommendations for Cats and Dogs with Nonketotic Diabetes Mellitus CE Form Product Preview Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - September 2007

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