CT reveals rare congenital vascular anomalies in Devon Rex cat

A newly published feline case report highlights how routine pre-anesthetic screening can uncover anatomy with major procedural relevance. In the Frontiers in Veterinary Science report, clinicians evaluating a 6-month-old intact male Devon Rex cat before castration found a caudal thoracic mass on radiographs, then used computed tomographic angiography to identify a set of congenital vascular anomalies, including direct drainage of the left hepatic vein into the right atrium. The authors state that this is the first such case reported in a cat in the veterinary literature. (frontiersin.org)

The finding builds on a limited but expanding body of veterinary reports describing unusual feline venous anatomy. Persistent left cranial vena cava has previously been reported in cats, often as an incidental finding associated with a dilated coronary sinus on echocardiography. More recently, a 2025 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound report described a Selkirk Rex cat with an anomalous left hepatic vein that crossed the diaphragm and drained into the right atrium, identified during workup for a portosystemic shunt; that paper characterized the anomaly as the first veterinary report of anomalous left hepatic vein anatomy in the species context. The new Frontiers case extends that literature by documenting the anomaly alongside other concurrent vascular defects in a Devon Rex kitten. (doaj.org)

According to the report, the cat had no apparent clinical signs, and the abnormalities were discovered incidentally after pre-op radiographs suggested a diaphragmatic abnormality. CT angiography showed four notable findings: anomalous left hepatic vein drainage directly into the right atrium, persistent left cranial vena cava, an abdominal arteriovenous fistula, and a left phrenicoabdominal vein variant associated with suspected peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia. The paper emphasizes CT angiography as the key modality for defining the vascular map, which is consistent with broader veterinary imaging literature describing multidetector CT angiography as especially useful for complex abdominal and portal vascular anomalies. (frontiersin.org)

The persistent left cranial vena cava component is notable but not unprecedented. Prior feline reports have described PLCVC as an uncommon congenital venous anomaly that may be hemodynamically inconsequential when it drains to the coronary sinus, yet still clinically relevant because it can alter imaging findings and procedural expectations. In the current case, the vessel drained into a mildly dilated coronary sinus, while a normal right cranial vena cava was also present. The abdominal arteriovenous fistula adds another layer of potential significance, as the authors note that AVFs can create a blood-steal effect and reduce downstream perfusion. (frontiersin.org)

No outside expert commentary or corporate reaction was readily available at publication, which is common for single-animal case reports. Still, the paper’s framing aligns with previous veterinary and comparative literature stressing that these anomalies are often incidental until imaging, surgery, or intervention brings them to light. Human and veterinary references cited by the authors also suggest that anomalous hepatic venous drainage and persistent left-sided caval structures are important less because they always cause disease, and more because they can surprise clinicians during invasive procedures. (frontiersin.org)

Why it matters: For general practitioners, surgeons, cardiologists, and radiologists, this case is a practical reminder that a “routine” pre-anesthetic workup can reveal anatomy that changes risk assessment and technique. In a young cat with an unexplained thoracic opacity, dilated coronary sinus, or suspected diaphragmatic abnormality, advanced imaging may uncover vascular variants that affect everything from catheter placement to surgical approach. It also reinforces the value of careful interpretation before elective procedures in asymptomatic patients, especially when radiographs raise even minor questions. (frontiersin.org)

The report may also be relevant to how clinicians think about congenital anomaly clustering. This kitten had multiple concurrent vascular abnormalities, plus suspected peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia, suggesting that when one developmental vascular defect is identified, others may warrant a deliberate search. That doesn’t establish a breed predisposition or syndrome, but it does support a more systematic imaging review once one anomaly is found. This is an inference from the case pattern and the broader imaging literature, rather than a conclusion proven by the paper itself. (frontiersin.org)

What to watch: The next step will be whether additional feline cases, especially in Devon Rex or other rex breeds, are reported, and whether future series can define how often these anomalies are incidental curiosities versus findings that should change anesthesia, surgery, or long-term monitoring plans. (frontiersin.org)