Traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts associated to pneumothorax and rib fractures in a dog

A two-year-old, 37 kg intact mixed-breed dog was presented with lameness of the left pelvic limb after being hit by a car three days ago. The physical examination revealed tachypnoea with an abdominal restrictive respiratory pattern. Based on history of the patient and imaging findings a presumptive diagnosis of pneumothorax, rib fractures and traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts (TPP) was made. The patient was treated conservatively. One month later, thoracic radiograph showed only a pulmonary small nodule. TPPs are an uncommon complication after blunt thorax trauma but should be included in the differential diagnosis when cavitary pulmonary lesions are seen on thoracic radiograph or CT.