Bilateral lung lobe torsions in a cat.

A 13-year-old spayed female domestic longhair cat was presented for tachypnea and was identified to have reduced lung sounds over the left hemithorax. Thoracic ultrasound examination and computed tomography identified changes consistent with bilateral lung lobe torsion. A median sternotomy confirmed torsion of both the cranial portion of the left cranial lung lobe and the right middle lung lobe. The affected lobes were resected. Pleural fluid analysis was indicative of a modified transudate and histopathology was consistent with a subacute to chronic torsion with no evidence of neoplasia or infection. The patient recovered without complication. Lung lobe torsion is an uncommon presentation across all species and is especially rare in cats. To the authors' knowledge, bilateral lung lobe torsion has not been previously reported in small animals. Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.