CHYLOUS ASCITES IN CATS - 9 CASES (1978-1993)

Medical records of 9 cats with chylous ascites that underwent explorat ory celiotomy were reviewed. In 7 cats, chylous ascites was associated with intra-abdominal neoplasia: 4 cats had an unresectable tumor (hem angiosarcoma, 3 cats; paraganglioma, 1 cat) within the mesenteric root ; 2 had malignant lymphoma of the small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes; and 1 had lymphangiosarcoma of the abdominal wall. In 2 cats, chylous ascites was associated with nonneoplastic diseases: 1 cat had severe biliary cirrhosis and an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, the other had steatitis caused by vitamin E deficiency. Three cats were eu thanatized or died at the time of surgery, and 5 cats were euthanatize d within 3 months of surgery. One cat with malignant lymphoma responde d well to chemotherapy and lived for 14 months after surgery.