MINERALIZED ARTERIOSCLEROSIS IN A CAT

In radiographs of a domestic short haired cat of unknown age, minerali zation was identified in the pulmonary parenchyma, peripheral pulmonar y vessels, the aortic outflow tract, aortic valve, celiac artery, cran ial mesenteric artery, and the internal and external iliac arteries, T he diffuse arterial mineralization was characterized histopathological ly as arteriosclerosis, This is the first report of mineralized arteri osclerosis in a cat with corresponding radiographic signs, The arterio sclerosis is thought to be due to systemic hypertension but a definiti ve cause for the profound mineralization was not found. Causes of soft tissue mineralization are reviewed.