PMC5362845_01
Left lateral abdominal radiograph of the cat at presentation, showing gaseous distension of the oesophagus, stomach and intestinal loops
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Thoracic and abdominal radiographs showed megaoesophagus, and generalised intestinal ileus and gastric gaseous distension (Figure 1).
Left lateral abdominal radiograph of the same cat the day after. Oesophagus dilation was no longer apparent, but pneumoperitoneum was present
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Abdominal and thoracic radiographs showed pneumoperitoneum and persistent generalised ileus (Figure 2).
(a) Jejunum (haematoxylin and eosin, x 100): severe glandular atrophy of the lamina propria. V = villi; LP = lamina propria; G = intestinal glands; LM = lamina muscularis; TS = tela submucosa; TM = tunica muscularis. (b) Jejunum, myenteric plexus in the tela submucosa (haematoxylin and eosin, x 400) showing reduced density of myenteric cells (neuronal degeneration [n]) and mild lymphocytic infiltrate (*)
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These findings were consistent with an intestinal glandular atrophy presumably secondary to chronic ganglioneuritis of myenteric plexus (Figure 3a,b).