The contribution of imaging in the diagnosis of endotracheal tumors in dogs: case report

Abstract

The trachea is a tubular structure that extends from the body of the axis to the fifth thoracic vertebra, where it then branches in the main bronchi, on the base of the heart. Although rare in dogs and cats, there are reports of intraluminal tracheal mass, either non-neoplastic, benign, or neoplastic malignant masses, which may even cause dynamic obstruction of the trachea. Radiography is a very useful technique for identifying and defining lower respiratory tract disease, including contrasting techniques that delineate the trachea. In this case report, a female dog of the Great Dane breed, two years old, was treated for a chest x-ray, whose main complaint was severe cough. Simple and contrasted radiographs were performed, where it was possible to observe radiopaque structure in the region of the trachea. After the radiographic examination, tracheobronchoscopy was performed, and an intraluminal mass could be visualized in the trachea, with removal of fragment for histopathological analysis, enabling diagnosis of Leiomyoma. With this, the importance of imaging examinations in cases of diagnoses of endotracheal tumors is demonstrated.