Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine gastrinoma: a case study and literature review of therapeutic options.
- Journal:
- New Zealand veterinary journal
- Year:
- 2006
- Authors:
- Hughes, S M
- Affiliation:
- Taranaki Veterinary Centre
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old spayed female Australian Terrier, weighing 6.2 kg, was brought to the vet because she was losing weight, eating less than usual, very tired, and had been vomiting intermittently for two days. During the examination, the vet found that she had pain in her abdomen and blood in her stool. Tests showed that her gastrin levels were very high, leading to a diagnosis of gastrinoma, a type of tumor that affects hormone production in the stomach. She was treated with medications to reduce stomach acid and did well for 26 months, but eventually, she needed surgery and was euthanized due to the cancer spreading. This case highlights that while some treatments can help manage gastrinoma, the long-term outlook for dogs with this condition is generally poor.
Abstract
CASE HISTORY: A 6.2 kg, 8-year-old, spayed female Australian Terrier was presented with weight loss, inappetence, lethargy and a 2-day history of intermittent vomiting. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The dog had cranial abdominal pain and there was melaena present on digital rectal examination. Haematology revealed a marked, acute leucogram. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: Fasting serum gastrin levels were markedly elevated and gastrinoma was suspected. Treatment was initiated with omeprazole, ranitidine and sucralfate. The dog remained clinically normal for 26 months, at which time exploratory surgery was undertaken and the dog subsequently euthanised due to extensive metastases. Histopathology and immunocytochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic gastrinoma. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is a rare condition infrequently reported. Although the number of cases treated with omeprazole are too few to draw firm conclusions, it would appear that proton pump inhibitors are useful and should be considered for cases of gastrinoma managed medically. Long-term prognosis is poor, and survival times range from 1 to 147 weeks. Many treatment options are discussed in the medical literature though not all are feasible in veterinary patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17028663/