Clinical history An older cat presented with a history of a firm swollen limb - the swelling had been present for 3-4 weeks and was hard and firm and the owner did not know of any past history of a skin lesion or a draining tract. The owners did not know of any incident of trauma although the cat was free to roam outside of the apartment Radiographs were made of the antebrachium and included the area of more focal swelling at the level of the distal radius Radiographs of the antebrachium – What is the diagnosis? img Enlarged images Radiographic changes A radiopaque foreign body was identified in the soft tissues between the distal radius and ulna without any signs of reactive bony response or fracture – the object is in the center of the limb on both views The foreign body can be described relative to the density, uniformity of the density throughout, and the type of margination Nature of the foreign body The density is more than that of adjacent bone suggesting one of the following - Metal including gun shot, high grade glass, plastic fragment, rock or stone, or tooth
- The nature of the object is that of uniform density without a mixture of material of other density or without any evidence that the object has fragmented
- The margination of the object is sharply defined with a base that is less well defined
Diagnosis The smooth margination except for the base of the object and the uniform density throughout suggested that the foreign body was a tooth fragment probably the result of a fight with another cat Treatment The limb was operated and the foreign body removed – the soft tissue was inflamed but without a definite abscess cavity The foreign body was a fractured canine tooth Recovery was uneventful Comments Radiopaque objects are rather easily identified on the radiograph – the appearance of the object may make its identification possible If the object is not radiopaque, ultrasound examination may be used to locate the object If a draining tract is present, it is possible to inject a radiopaque contrast media to outline the location of the tract– air may also be used as the contrast agent
