Computed tomography in the diagnosis of steroidal hepatopathy in a dog: case report

Abstract

It is reported a case of an eight-year-old Yorkshire Terrier dog, with a history of prolonged use of prednisone in a dosage of 1mg/kg of body weight each 24 hours during two years. The helical computed tomography revealed hepatomegaly associated to a hyperattenuation of the parenchyma, with a radiodensity value of 82.55 Hounsfield units (HU). The spleen presented a mean radiodensity of 57.17HU, and a radiodensity difference of 25.38HU was observed between the two organs. Based on the history and findings of imaging technique, it was determined the presumptive diagnosis of steroidal hepatopathy compatible with accumulation of hepatic glycogen. It was concluded that computed tomography enabled the characterization of hepatic injury and the presumed diagnosis of steroidal hepatopathy.Keywords: dog, helical computed tomography, glycogenosis, steatosis, prednisone RESUMO Relata

Triple-Phase Multidetector Computed Tomography in Distinguishing Canine Hepatic Lesions

“…The information regarding this type of liver pathology is limited to a few reports dealing with steroid hepatopathy in dogs [ 18 , 19 ] and hepatic lipidosis in cats [ 20 , 21 ]. The attenuation values of the canine liver with steroid hepatopathy were measured only in the pre-contrast CT examination, and were reported as hyperattenuating [ 18 , 19 ]. Steroid hepatopathy is characterized by glycogen accumulation in the liver parenchyma [ 22 ].…”

Quantitative computed tomography of the liver in dogs submitted to prednisone therapy

“…The evaluation of abdominal organs' radiodensity is widely performed in human patients (Leander et al, 2000;Tsujimoto et al, 2006, Kodama et al, 2007 and can be employed with high precision and reproducibility in animals, helping in the diagnosis of alterations in several organs (Ohlerth andSharf, 2007, Teixeira et al, 2007;Costa et al, 2010). A recent study demonstrated the occurrence of steroid hepatopathy in a dog subjected to prolonged corticosteroid therapy, with an increase of the parenchymal liver radiodensity (Costa et al, 2011). The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible alterations in radiodensity of the hepatic parenchyma and spleen resulting from the corticotherapy with prednisone, correlating these findings with serum biochemical hepatic transaminase activity.…”