Biliary Cystadenoma in a Maltese Dog: Clinical and Diagnostic Findings

Abstract

ABSTRACT. A 14-year-old Maltese dog presented for complete medical examination due to intermittent vomiting and diarrhea observed during the previous two days. A single, solitary, lobulated cystic mass was observed in the liver upon ultrasonographic and computed tomographic examination. After surgical hepatic resection to remove the mass, histological examination revealed a multilocular cyst lined by cuboidal to columnar epithelial cells, which is consistent with biliary cystadenoma. Here, we report the clinical, clinicopathological, histopathological, and diagnostic imaging findings of biliary cystadenoma in a dog.KEY WORDS: biliary cystadenoma, canine, liver.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 73(12): 1677-1679, 2011 Biliary cystadenoma is benign cystic tumor arising from biliary epithelium that most frequently occurs in the intrahepatic bile duct [3,4]. Biliary cystadenoma is a less common cystic lesion of the liver in humans and is referred to as cystadenoma, bile duct adenoma or cystic cholangioma [3,7]. In humans, although accurate etiology is unclear, biliary cystadenoma is known as benign hepatic tumor. However, it is also referred to as a premalignant lesion because of the risk of malignant changes. The clinical signs of biliary cystadenoma are usually unspecific or absent, and diagnosis is made from diagnostic imaging and histopathologic examination. Histological features of biliary cystadenoma in humans consist of a multilocular cyst lined with cuboidal to columnar epithelial cells and cellular stroma [4]. Biliary cystadenoma should be differentiated with other hepatic cystic lesions including cystadenocarcinoma, hematoma or hepatic simple cyst [7,8]. There have been numerous case reports of biliary cystadenoma in humans [3,7,8] and cats [1,5,6,9]; however, there have been no reports of its occurrence in dogs. According to veterinary literature, most of clinical manifestations in cats are similar to those in humans, but the histologic features are somewhat different in that the tumor consists of noncellular septa [1,5,6,9]. Here, we describe the clinical, clinicopathological, histopathological, and diagnostic imaging findings of biliary cystadenoma in a dog.A 14-year-old, castrated male Maltese dog presented due to intermittent vomiting and diarrhea observed the previous two days. One month prior to presentation, the dog was treated with pancreatitis, at which time a hepatic mass was detected incidentally upon ultrasonographic examination at local animal hospital. Upon physical examination, the patient was mildly depressed and abdominal distension was showed. No palpable abdominal mass was detected, and, mild abdominal pain, especially on the right upper part was suspected. The results of complete blood counts revealed mild leukocytosis (white blood cell [WBC] 9.1 U/l, reference range, 0-6) and bile acid levels (postprandial 47.7 μmol/l, reference range, <25.0 μmol/l). Lipase (92 U/l, reference range, 0~500) and bilirubin (0.13 U/l, reference range, 0.1~0.4) levels were normal. Electrolytes, acidbase and coagulation ...

Correlation of Clinicopathological and Ultrasonographic Findings for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Liver Affections in Dogs

“…In addition, papillary projections were seen within lumen of cyst (Figure 9). The microscopic findings coincided with earlier reports of cystadenoma in dogs and biliary cystadenomas were reported as rare cystic tumors arising from liver and less commonly in extrahepatic biliary system in cases of dogs [30][31].…”

“…One case of cystadenoma was diagnosed, and on ultrasonographic examination presence of mixed echotexture and congested liver along with multiple hypoechoic nodules seen throughout parenchyma of one hepatic lobe (Figure 8). Similar type of ultrasonographic findings has been reported in dogs having cystadenoma [30].…”

A cystoadenoma of the biliary ducts in a dog: anatomo-histopathological features and pathogenetic considerations: a case report

“…According to the current literature (Moon et al 2011), a dog cholangioma, in the absence of stroma, could phylogenetically evolve towards possible malignant forms. This is in contrast to the situation in humans, where stroma is evident and cases of malignant behaviour are very rare.…”

“…In the literature, this neoplasm is frequently described in cats (Adler and Wilson 1995;Trout et al 1995;Nyland et al 1999;Kristick et al 2010), whereas it has on rare occasion been reported in pigs (Graw and Berg 1977), sheep (Watt 1970) and dogs (Trigo et al 1982;Akkoc et al 2009;Moon et al 2011); moreover, in humans it is a rare tumour with a higher incidence in women older than 40 years (Ishak et al 1977).…”