Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Imaging features of liver cancer nodules in a Maltese dog
By Mihyun Choi et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2026·BON Animal Medical Center, Suwon-si, Republic of Korea, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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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, indicating it was likely a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma. This case is notable because it highlights how similar imaging features in dogs can resemble those seen in humans. The dog’s treatment plan would depend on further evaluation and the veterinarian's recommendations based on her overall health and the cancer's progression.
People also search for: dog liver nodule · Maltese liver cancer symptoms · hepatocellular carcinoma treatment in dogs
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 DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1779996