Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Abdominal cancer causing vomiting and constipation in Vietnamese
By McCoy, Annette M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2009·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Alimentary-associated carcinomas in five Vietnamese potbellied pigs.
- Species:
- pig
Plain-English summary
Five Vietnamese potbellied pigs were brought in with symptoms of abdominal distress, including not eating, vomiting, and constipation. During examinations, vets found a noticeable mass in their abdomens, and some pigs had swollen intestines on X-rays. Three of the pigs underwent surgery to remove the tumors and recovered well, living for at least nine months afterward. Unfortunately, the other two pigs were euthanized due to the severity of their conditions. This case highlights the importance of considering tumors in potbellied pigs that show signs of stomach issues.
People also search for: potbellied pig vomiting · pig abdominal mass treatment · potbellied pig cancer symptoms
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: 5 Vietnamese potbellied pigs were evaluated for abdominal distress that had not responded to medical treatment (4 pigs) or a draining tract of the cranial abdomen of unknown duration (1 pig). CLINICAL FINDINGS: Clinical signs in the pigs included anorexia, vomiting, and constipation. Physical examination revealed a palpable abdominal mass in all pigs. Radiography revealed distended loops of small intestine in 2 pigs. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: 3 pigs were treated successfully with wide-margin excision of the abdominal masses, and 2 were euthanized. Primary tumors were diagnosed at necropsy or through histologic evaluation of biopsy specimens obtained during surgery. Types of tumor included cholangiocellular carcinoma, transmural gastric carcinoma, small intestinal adenocarcinoma, metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma, and carcinoma. The tumors involved the stomach, small intestine, spiral colon, liver, and gall bladder. All 3 surgically treated pigs survived at least 9 months after surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although rare, neoplasia of the alimentary system should be considered among the differential diagnoses for potbellied pigs with signs of abdominal distress. Wide-margin excision of the neoplastic tissue may result in a good outcome in affected pigs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19951106/