Caroli’s-type ductal plate malformation and a portosystemic shunt in a 4-month-old kitten

Abstract

Case summaryA 4-month-old neutered male Russian Blue kitten had a 4 week history of hypersalivation and failure to thrive. In addition, there was a 2 week history of soft tissue swelling on the ventral abdomen, which had failed to improve with antimicrobial therapy. There were no significant physical examination or neurological deficits on examination; however, the cat had a quiet demeanour for its age. Postprandial bile acids were increased (32 µmol/l; reference interval <25 µmol/l). An abdominal CT scan revealed changes consistent with an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt and inflammation of fat of the ventral abdominal body wall. Surgical biopsy and culture of the subcutaneous swelling identified non-infectious steatitis. Ten weeks following initial presentation, surgical exploration, liver biopsy and ligation of the portosystemic shunt were performed. Liver biopsy was submitted to the Anatomical Pathology Laboratory of Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, New York, USA. Histopathology revealed a ductal plate malformation (Caroli’s type), as well as changes consistent with a portosystemic shunt.Relevance and novel informationDuctal plate malformations are rarely described in the veterinary literature. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of Caroli’s-type malformation in a cat. There are no biochemical changes that allow for differentiation of ductal plate malformations from other hepatopathies. Liver biopsy is required for a definitive diagnosis.

An unusual presentation of a hepatic ductal malformation in a Boxer dog

“…However, none of the livers resembled a large single neoplastic mass. DPM was also reported in a four‐month‐old kitten after liver biopsy during exploratory laparotomy for congenital extra hepatic portosystemic shunt, 7 without any hepatic mass observed. Similarly, during necropsy of a six‐year‐old male African green monkey, multifocal pale areas 1–2 cm in diameter were noted in the right lateral liver lobe and were confirmed as a DPM on histopathology 8 .…”

Caroli syndrome in a dog

“…Although Caroli malformations in humans are associated with genetic abnormalities, these specific mutations have not been identified in dogs (HELGERT & sULA, 2019). To the best of our knowledge, there have been only two reports of Caroli syndrome in dogs and a report of Caroli's-type ductal plate malformation in a cat (PILLAI et al, 2016;ROBERTs et al, 2018;HELGERT & sULA, 2019). Herein, we describe the clinical and gross histological features of Caroli syndrome in a dog.…”

Imaging findings and monitoring of a rare case of congenital intrahepatic bile duct ectasia (Caroli‐like disease) and a pancreatic cyst in a 2‐month‐old cat

“…Differential diagnoses include other diseases that can have the same imaging appearance: polycystic liver disease, choledochal and peribiliary cysts, cholangitis and biliary obstruction. 1,2,15,17,21,27,[29][30][31][32][33] Imaging modalities can support the diagnosis, especially when the intrahepatic bile ducts are seen surrounding the portal vasculature, having a tubular structure that follows up to the level of the gallbladder. 28…”

“…Congenital cystic changes of the biliary tree can affect any portion of the biliary tree, including the intra-and extrahepatic biliary ducts. 2,5,9,[15][16][17][18] The distribution of intrahepatic lesions can be examined with ultrasonography. The ultrasonographic appearance of the feline biliary tree has been well described in the literature.…”