Liver cancer found by accident in 11-year-old female Tibetan Terrier

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatobiliary tumors are uncommon in dogs, and metastatic liver tumors are diagnosed more frequently than primary liver tumors. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most prevalent primary liver malignant tumor. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 11-year-old spayed female Tibetan Terrier was referred to the University of Sarajevo Veterinary Teaching Hospital due to recurrent painful urination attempts, straining urination, hematuria, and decreased appetite. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a moderately distended bladder containing urolith, bladder wall thickening, and sediment. Incidentally, a hyperechoic hepatic mass on the left medial liver lobe and hepatomegaly were detected along with gallbladder sludge. Surgical cystolithotomy and partial liver lobectomy were performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the hepatic mass as clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma (CCHCC). CONCLUSION: Although this rare histological subtype has been documented, its biological behavior and clinical features remain poorly understood due to the scarcity of cases. A recent publication by Jung(2021). described the first cytological, histological, and clinical case presentation of CCHCC in dogs, suggesting that obesity and hyperlipidemia may be potential risk factors. However, these proposed risk factors were not detected in the present case, implying that CCHCC in dogs is a rare and poorly understood condition that warrants further attention in veterinary research.