Sublumbar grass awns in two cats: ultrasonographic features and ultrasound-guided retrieval

Two adult cats were evaluated because of recurrent abscesses of the right lateral thoracoabdominal wall. The abscesses receded with antibiotics but relapsed shortly after therapy interruption. Ultrasonography identified fluid-filled lesions containing linear, hyperechoic material with distal acoustic shadowing in the sublumbar region of both cats. Ultrasound-guided retrieval of grass awns was performed in both cases, which resulted in complete clinical resolution.

While sublumbar abscesses in dogs are a relatively common disease, their occurrence in cats is much less common. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the ultrasonographic features of sublumbar abscessation induced by foreign bodies and their ultrasound-guided retrieval in cats.