Hypertrophic osteopathy and megaoesophagus in a cat

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Hypertrophic osteopathy (HO) is a rare condition characterized by periosteal proliferation.
• It can be associated with intrathoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasia, but idiopathic cases also occur.
• This report focuses on a stray cat presenting with clinical signs suggestive of HO.

Observation:

• A stray cat presented with signs of hypertrophic osteopathy, including periosteal proliferation.
• Mesoesophagus developed several months after the initial presentation.
• Computed tomography (CT) imaging, performed 18 months after initial signs, did not reveal an underlying neoplasia.

Findings:

• Successful medical management of both hypertrophic osteopathy and megaoesophagus was achieved.
• The cat demonstrated long-term positive outcomes, remaining in good health 33 months after the onset of HO signs.
• This case highlights the possibility of idiopathic hypertrophic osteopathy and megaoesophagus with a favorable prognosis.

Implications:

• This case contributes to the understanding of hypertrophic osteopathy and megaoesophagus in feline medicine.
• It suggests that medical management can be effective even without identifying an underlying neoplastic cause.
• Long-term follow-up is crucial for assessing the prognosis of such cases in cats.