ABSTRACT
16 A 6-year-old castrated male Maine Coon cat presents with severe respiratory distress. Two-view thoracic radiographs are acquired and reveal significant pleural effusion. Thoracentesis removes approximately 250 mL of fluid (Figure 16.1). On analysis, the fluid had a total nucleated cell count of 3,600 cells/µL and refractometer-measured total protein of 4.9 g/dL. The cytologic features of the fluid are presented in the second image (Figure 16.2). https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429401725/9d69b4ae-80d1-4f44-9dcb-659cda134065/content/fig16_1_C.jpg"/> https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429401725/9d69b4ae-80d1-4f44-9dcb-659cda134065/content/fig16_2_C.jpg"/>
i. How would you characterize this effusion?
ii. Considering the gross and cytologic features of the fluid, what specific type of effusion is present?
iii. What biochemical analyses could be performed to confirm the presence of this effusion?
iv. In the cat, which disease processes are most commonly associated with the 30development of this effusion type?
