Extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thorax in a goat: case report

BACKGROUND: This report describes the results of clinical, ultrasonographic and computed tomographic examination of a 16-year-old goat with extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thorax. CASE PRESENTATION: The lead clinical signs were abnormal condition and demeanour, fever, tachycardia, tachypnoea, dyspnoea and dilated jugular veins. Ultrasonographic examination of the thorax revealed a precardial mass, measuring 16.4 by 11.4 by 14.2 cm. Computed tomographic examination showed dorsocaudal displacement of the trachea, heart and lungs to the right. A tentative diagnosis of mediastinal or pleural neoplasia was made, and the goat was euthanased and necropsied. A definitive diagnosis was based on histological examination of the mass. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this case report is the first description of extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thorax in goats and serves to broaden the diagnostic spectrum of thoracic diseases in this species. Extraskeletal osteosarcoma should be part of the differential diagnosis in goats with thoracic tumours

Computed tomography measurements of thoracic structures in 26 clinically normal goats

The present study was performed to provide computed tomographic (CT) reference values for structures in the thorax of 26 clinically normal Saanen goats. Animals were anesthetized, positioned in sternal recumbency and transverse images with a reconstructed 1.5mm slice thickness were obtained by use of a 40-slice CT scanner. Absolute and relative measurements of the trachea, heart, cranial vena cava, thoracic aorta, caudal vena cava, right and left principal bronchus, right and left caudal lobar bronchus and the concomitant branch of the right and left pulmonary artery and vein, large caudal mediastinal lymph node and lung density were performed with dedicated software. Minimal to moderate interstitial or bronchopneumonia was incidentally found on CT in 24 animals. In conclusion, CT images obtained in this study can be used as a reference for the evaluation of thoracic diseases in goats