Treatment and outcomes of five dogs with intrathoracic migration of porcupine quills.

Traction allowed removal of quills that were superficially attached to the pulmonary parenchyma without the need for subsequent lobectomy. Epicardial and myocardial quills were detected following pericardiotomy in three dogs despite the absence of quills grossly penetrating the pericardium. Preoperative imaging did not allow consistent detection of quills.