Chronic bronchocutaneous fistula caused by toothpick foreign body in a Maltese dog

Abstract

A 7-year-old, 1.76 kg Maltese dog presented with a 4-year history of a chronic pustular lesion and a wet cough. Erosive lesions were seen at the left thoracic wall. Radiology and computed tomography (CT) revealed a bronchocutaneous fistula connecting from the left cranial bronchus to the skin. On definitive surgery, a long wooden toothpick was observed within this tract, and clinical signs resolved after retrieval of the foreign body. Three-dimensional CT was useful to identify the characteristics of the bronchocutaneous fistula. However, the wooden foreign body was not apparent on CT. Here, we report the clinical, clinicopathological and diagnostic imaging findings of a chronic bronchocutaneous fistula caused by a foreign body in a dog. © 2012 The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science.