Pv. Scrivani et al., RESULTS OF DOUBLE-CONTRAST CYSTOGRAPHY IN CATS WITH IDIOPATHIC CYSTITIS - 45 CASES (1993-1995), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 212(12), 1998, pp. 1907
Objective-To determine results of double-contrast cystography in cats
with idiopathic cystitis. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-45 cats
with clinical signs of nonobstructive lower urinary tract disease for
which an underlying cause could not be determined. Procedure-Medical r
ecords and double-contrast cystograms performed initially and during 6
- and 12-month reevaluations were reviewed. Results-105 cystograms wer
e reviewed. Fifteen (33%) cats had abnormalities evident on cystograms
obtained at the time of initial examination. Of these, only 1 had abn
ormalities 6 and 12 months later. Thirty cats did not have abnormaliti
es evident on cystograms obtained at the time of initial examination.
Of these, 1 had abnormalities on a cystogram performed 6 months later
and another had abnormalities on a cystogram performed 12 months later
. Abnormalities evident on cystograms included focal thickening of the
bladder wall (n = 11), diffuse thickening of the bladder wall (6), ir
regularities of the bladder mucosa (10), decreased opacity of the blad
der wall (3), increased opacity of the bladder mucosa (3), filling def
ects (4), contrast medium in unexpected locations (3), and altered ure
teral opacity (15). Clinical Implications-Results suggested that a lar
ge percentage of cats with idiopathic cystitis do not have cystographi
c abnormalities when initially examined but that abnormalities may be
apparent during follow-up evaluations. In addition, a smaller percenta
ge of cats with idiopathic cystitis may have nonspecific cystographic
signs of cystitis or hemorrhage. Leakage of contrast medium into the p
eritoneal space during cystography does not necessarily require surgic
al management.