Intracardiac Porcupine Quill Migration in a Dog: Multimodality Imaging Findings and Surgical Management
The porcupine is a nocturnal quill-bearing rodent common throughout Italy. When threatened, it defends itself by erecting its quills, rattling its tail, and running sideways or backyard into predators. The quills are released upon contact with assailants and tend to migrate into several body tissues...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/12/700 |
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| author | Antonello Bufalari Giulia Moretti Eleonora Monti Lisa Garofanini Giovanni Angeli Francesco Porciello Maria Chiara Marchesi Domenico Caivano |
| author_facet | Antonello Bufalari Giulia Moretti Eleonora Monti Lisa Garofanini Giovanni Angeli Francesco Porciello Maria Chiara Marchesi Domenico Caivano |
| author_sort | Antonello Bufalari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The porcupine is a nocturnal quill-bearing rodent common throughout Italy. When threatened, it defends itself by erecting its quills, rattling its tail, and running sideways or backyard into predators. The quills are released upon contact with assailants and tend to migrate into several body tissues or cavities due to the unique inverted cuticles (crenate) directed downwards to the quill base (a sort of “harpoon effect”). Intracardiac migration of porcupine quills has been reported in a few dogs with severe clinical signs. This case report describes a single porcupine quill [<i>Hystrix cristata</i>, (<i>HC</i>)] migration through the heart in a dog and the use of multimodality imaging for the diagnosis and surgical approach. A 4-year-old 25 kg female mixed-breed dog was presented for evaluation of recurrent fever. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination showed a linear, hyperechoic foreign body traversing the interventricular septum from the heart base to the cardiac apex. Computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the presence of a single structure resembling a quill; a later esophageal endoscopy showed no anatomical alterations or mucosal injuries. Following median sternotomy and after accurate localization by intraoperative ultrasound, the quill was successfully removed. The dog had a good recovery without evidence of severe cardiac injury secondary to an intracardiac quill. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the identification of an intracardiac <i>HC</i> quill by ultrasonography and CT and its successful removal by ultrasound guide has not been previously reported. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:46:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2ff1f20b092412c97313955f49fbc79 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:46:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2ff1f20b092412c97313955f49fbc792023-11-24T18:35:41ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812022-12-0191270010.3390/vetsci9120700Intracardiac Porcupine Quill Migration in a Dog: Multimodality Imaging Findings and Surgical ManagementAntonello Bufalari0Giulia Moretti1Eleonora Monti2Lisa Garofanini3Giovanni Angeli4Francesco Porciello5Maria Chiara Marchesi6Domenico Caivano7Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, ItalyThe porcupine is a nocturnal quill-bearing rodent common throughout Italy. When threatened, it defends itself by erecting its quills, rattling its tail, and running sideways or backyard into predators. The quills are released upon contact with assailants and tend to migrate into several body tissues or cavities due to the unique inverted cuticles (crenate) directed downwards to the quill base (a sort of “harpoon effect”). Intracardiac migration of porcupine quills has been reported in a few dogs with severe clinical signs. This case report describes a single porcupine quill [<i>Hystrix cristata</i>, (<i>HC</i>)] migration through the heart in a dog and the use of multimodality imaging for the diagnosis and surgical approach. A 4-year-old 25 kg female mixed-breed dog was presented for evaluation of recurrent fever. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination showed a linear, hyperechoic foreign body traversing the interventricular septum from the heart base to the cardiac apex. Computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the presence of a single structure resembling a quill; a later esophageal endoscopy showed no anatomical alterations or mucosal injuries. Following median sternotomy and after accurate localization by intraoperative ultrasound, the quill was successfully removed. The dog had a good recovery without evidence of severe cardiac injury secondary to an intracardiac quill. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the identification of an intracardiac <i>HC</i> quill by ultrasonography and CT and its successful removal by ultrasound guide has not been previously reported.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/12/700computer tomographyheart<i>Hystrix cristata</i>migrating foreign bodyporcupine quillthoracic surgery |
| spellingShingle | Antonello Bufalari Giulia Moretti Eleonora Monti Lisa Garofanini Giovanni Angeli Francesco Porciello Maria Chiara Marchesi Domenico Caivano Intracardiac Porcupine Quill Migration in a Dog: Multimodality Imaging Findings and Surgical Management Veterinary Sciences computer tomography heart <i>Hystrix cristata</i> migrating foreign body porcupine quill thoracic surgery |
| title | Intracardiac Porcupine Quill Migration in a Dog: Multimodality Imaging Findings and Surgical Management |
| title_full | Intracardiac Porcupine Quill Migration in a Dog: Multimodality Imaging Findings and Surgical Management |
| title_fullStr | Intracardiac Porcupine Quill Migration in a Dog: Multimodality Imaging Findings and Surgical Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intracardiac Porcupine Quill Migration in a Dog: Multimodality Imaging Findings and Surgical Management |
| title_short | Intracardiac Porcupine Quill Migration in a Dog: Multimodality Imaging Findings and Surgical Management |
| title_sort | intracardiac porcupine quill migration in a dog multimodality imaging findings and surgical management |
| topic | computer tomography heart <i>Hystrix cristata</i> migrating foreign body porcupine quill thoracic surgery |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/12/700 |
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