Fig. 1

A 4-year-old male castrated American short hair cat presented with polypnea. A ventrodorsal view of thorax X-ray showed an enlarged cardiac silhouette, increased density in the posterior part of the left anterior lobe and in the inner bands of the lung fields bilaterally, bluntly rounded edges of the lung fields bilaterally, and an interlobular pleural fissure line visible in the left 6-7 intercostal space (arrow). It suggests the presence of pulmonary oedema and a small amount of pleural effusion"

Fig. 2

A 4-year-old male domesticated long hair cat presented with dyspnoea and cough. A ventrodorsal view of thorax X-ray showed an ill-defined cardiac silhouette, bilateral lung lobe retraction (arrows), and soft tissue density in the thoracic cavity. It suggested bilateral massive pleural effusion and pulmonary atelectasis"

Fig. 3

A 6-month-old male American short hair cat presented with dyspnoea. X-ray evidence of pleural effusion. The thoracic ultrasonography in the right lateral position revealed many echogenic dark areas in the right thoracic cavity, with segregation (arrow) in the dark areas, with a depth of about 2.66 cm. It suggested that the right thoracic cavity was effused, with the formation of segregation in the pleural cavity"

Fig. 4

Typical chyle fluid has a milky white (A) or pale pink (B) appearance The color picture can be found by scanning the OSID code on the front page of the article, the same as below"

Fig. 5

Schematic diagram of the lymphatic circulation pathway"

Table 1

Comparison of methods of CT lymphangiography in canine and feline"

Fig. 6

A 4-year-old male castrated domestic short hair cat presented with dyspnoea and cyanosis. A prone CT scan (transverse section left ventricular outflow tract level) that showed bilateral ventral massive fluid density shadows in the thoracic cavity, with a mean CT value of approximately 7 HU. The ventral pleura thickened with a soft-tissue density (arrows). It suggested that bilateral massive pleural effusions with pleurisy. Mediastinal window, window level: 40 HU, window width: 400"

Fig. 7

The same cat as shown in Fig. 6 perform a CT lymphangiography. A: Maximum intensity projection (MIP) in the sagittal plane shows the thoracic duct and the celiac pool (arrows) (bone window, window level: 300 HU, window width: 1500). B: Transverse section in prone position at the level of the 3rd thoracic vertebrae reveals high density (arrow) on the ventral side of the left intrathoracic cavity, considering contrast leakage deposited on the gravitational side of the intrathoracic cavity (mediastinal window, window level: 40 HU, window width: 400). C: Transverse section in prone position at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebrae shows the branch of the thoracic duct dorsal to the aorta in high density (arrows). Preoperative scanning helps to differentiate the thoracic duct alignment and its branches and assists in surgical planning (mediastinal window, window level: 40 HU, window width: 400). D: CT lymphangiography was performed after thoracic duct ligation, and the maximum intensity projection (MIP) in the sagittal plane showed high density in the thoracic duct up to the level of the L2 vertebral body, with no visualization at the distal end, suggesting that the ligation had been successful. Multiple high-density images (arrow) of the ventral aspect of the vertebral body at the level of the T11-T12 were surgical titanium clips (bone window, window level: 300 HU, window width: 1 500)"