Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Liver tumor with nodule-in-nodule pattern in Maltese dog
By Choi, Mihyun et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2026·BON Animal Medical Center, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case Report: Contrast-enhanced US and CT imaging features of nodule-in-nodule hepatocellular carcinoma in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A spayed female Maltese dog weighing 3 kg was found to have a liver nodule during a routine health check. Imaging tests, including ultrasound and CT scans, showed a complex mass in her liver that had a unique appearance, with a central area surrounded by a different texture. This type of liver tumor, known as nodule-in-nodule hepatocellular carcinoma, was identified through these advanced imaging techniques. While the report focuses on the imaging characteristics, it highlights the importance of thorough examinations for early detection of serious conditions like liver cancer in dogs.
People also search for: dog liver nodule · Maltese liver cancer symptoms · dog ultrasound liver tumor
Abstract
A spayed female Maltese dog weighing 3 kg found to have a hepatic nodule during a routine health examination. B-mode ultrasonography revealed a focal, round, heterogeneous mass located in the left lateral liver lobe, characterized by a target-like appearance with a hyperechoic center surrounded by a hypoechoic peripheral region. On contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, the lesion exhibited a central defect during the Kupffer phase. Multiphasic computed tomography (CT) demonstrated marked diffuse enhancement during the arterial phase, followed by heterogeneous washout in the portal phase. Delayed-phase CT images further revealed a hyperattenuating central nodule within a hypoattenuating peripheral component. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the B-mode, ultrasonographic, contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic, and multiphasic CT features of nodule-in-nodule hepatocellular carcinoma in a dog, closely resembling imaging characteristics reported in human medicine.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42146040/