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Background <p>Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm (PAP) is a rare but well-documented vascular abnormality in humans and can be life-threatening. In companion animals, data on PAP are scarce. While the clinical course and imaging features of migrating intrathoracic grass awns in dogs are well documented, they have not previously been associated with PAP. Lung ultrasonography (LUS) is increasingly used in veterinary medicine, with multiple sonographic patterns reported for pulmonary disease, including disorders caused by migrating grass awns. This report describes an unprecedented ultrasonographic appearance of a peripheral PAP secondary to a migrating intrathoracic grass awn in a dog.</p> Case presentation <p>A 10-year-old spayed female Yorkshire Terrier was evaluated for a 3-day history of lethargy, inappetence, and coughing. Thoracic radiography revealed an interstitial-to-alveolar pattern in the right caudal lung lobe, and echocardiography identified myxomatous mitral valve disease. LUS demonstrated a pulsatile, hypoechoic lesion in the caudodorsal region of the right caudal lung lobe, in continuity with a pulmonary artery branch. The lesion had an oval to pear-shaped appearance, and color Doppler showed a “yin–yang” pattern of swirling intraluminal flow. A subtle hyperechoic interface casting an acoustic shadow, suggestive of a foreign body, was visible adjacent to the deep wall of the lesion. Despite empirical treatment for pneumonia, the dog deteriorated and was euthanized. Postmortem LUS of the excised lung supported the presence of a vegetal foreign body within the lesion. Gross and histopathological examination established a diagnosis of peripheral PAP associated with necrotizing, suppurative pneumonia and an intrabronchial grass awn.</p> Conclusions <p>This case suggests that PAP may represent a potential sequela of intrabronchial grass awn migration in dogs. On LUS, a hypoechoic, pulsatile intrapulmonary lesion with a “yin–yang” Doppler flow pattern should prompt consideration of PAP. Although further studies are needed, careful assessment of similar ultrasonographic findings may facilitate the recognition of clinically relevant vascular lesions in dogs.</p>

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Ultrasonographic features of a pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to a migrating intrathoracic grass awn in a dog: a case report

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月28日

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  • Michał Gruss,
  • Anna Łukomska,
  • Maciej Głębicki,
  • Maciej Gogulski,
  • Roland Kozdrowski

摘要

Background

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm (PAP) is a rare but well-documented vascular abnormality in humans and can be life-threatening. In companion animals, data on PAP are scarce. While the clinical course and imaging features of migrating intrathoracic grass awns in dogs are well documented, they have not previously been associated with PAP. Lung ultrasonography (LUS) is increasingly used in veterinary medicine, with multiple sonographic patterns reported for pulmonary disease, including disorders caused by migrating grass awns. This report describes an unprecedented ultrasonographic appearance of a peripheral PAP secondary to a migrating intrathoracic grass awn in a dog.

Case presentation

A 10-year-old spayed female Yorkshire Terrier was evaluated for a 3-day history of lethargy, inappetence, and coughing. Thoracic radiography revealed an interstitial-to-alveolar pattern in the right caudal lung lobe, and echocardiography identified myxomatous mitral valve disease. LUS demonstrated a pulsatile, hypoechoic lesion in the caudodorsal region of the right caudal lung lobe, in continuity with a pulmonary artery branch. The lesion had an oval to pear-shaped appearance, and color Doppler showed a “yin–yang” pattern of swirling intraluminal flow. A subtle hyperechoic interface casting an acoustic shadow, suggestive of a foreign body, was visible adjacent to the deep wall of the lesion. Despite empirical treatment for pneumonia, the dog deteriorated and was euthanized. Postmortem LUS of the excised lung supported the presence of a vegetal foreign body within the lesion. Gross and histopathological examination established a diagnosis of peripheral PAP associated with necrotizing, suppurative pneumonia and an intrabronchial grass awn.

Conclusions

This case suggests that PAP may represent a potential sequela of intrabronchial grass awn migration in dogs. On LUS, a hypoechoic, pulsatile intrapulmonary lesion with a “yin–yang” Doppler flow pattern should prompt consideration of PAP. Although further studies are needed, careful assessment of similar ultrasonographic findings may facilitate the recognition of clinically relevant vascular lesions in dogs.