RESULTS OF DOUBLE-CONTRAST CYSTOGRAPHY IN CATS WITH IDIOPATHIC CYSTITIS - 45 CASES (1993-1995)

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.