Multimodal Imaging Characteristics of a Migrating Oropharyngeal-Spinal Foreign Body in a Cat

A 2.5 yr old female spayed domestic shorthair presented for acute tetraparesis, dull mentation, and fever. MRI and computed tomography identified a thin linear foreign body extending from the caudal nasopharynx through the atlanto-occipital joint and cervicomedullary junction. Signal changes within the musculature were consistent with myositis, edema, and abscessation. Inflammation and edema surrounded the foreign body, and a dorsal cervical myelopathy extended caudally to the level of C6. Computed tomography attenuation values of the foreign body were most consistent with plant material. Euthanasia was performed; postmortem dissection of the soft palate confirmed a plant stem with abscess.