Hepatic abscess caused by an inhaled migrating grass awn in a cat: first description and minimally invasive surgical approach.

Abstract

Case summary: A 6-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 1-month history of cough, weight loss and partial anorexia, unresponsive to corticosteroid therapy. Initial imaging revealed bronchiectasis and pneumonia in the accessory lung lobe due to an inhaled grass awn, which was successfully removed via bronchoscopy. Subsequent clinical deterioration prompted further investigation, which identified a hepatic abscess containing a vegetal foreign body. The foreign body was suspected to have migrated through the diaphragm from the respiratory system. Surgical exploration confirmed the hepatic lesion. The grass awn was localised and extracted using intraoperative ultrasonographic guidance, avoiding the need for hepatic lobectomy. The cat recovered uneventfully with long-term antibiotic therapy.

Relevance and novel information: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a hepatic abscess caused by the migration of a grass awn foreign body in a cat. It is also the first report of intraoperative ultrasonography to localise and extract a non-visible plant-based foreign body within the deep hepatic parenchyma in this species. This case highlights the value of integrating advanced imaging modalities such as CT for preoperative planning and intraoperative ultrasonography to enable targeted and minimally invasive surgical interventions. This approach minimises the need for extensive procedures, reduces associated risks and promotes successful clinical outcomes.