Diffuse Infiltrative Colonic Lipomatosis in a Vietnamese Pot-bellied Pig.

Abstract

Diffuse infiltrative gastrointestinal lipomatosis (DIGIL) is characterized by widespread proliferation of adipose tissue within the submucosal and subserosal layers of the gastrointestinal tract. Here we describe a case of diffuse infiltrative colonic lipomatosis in a 3-year-old male Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. Gross anatomical changes included obesity with sparse small intestinal contents and no colonic contents. The colonic lumen was narrowed and the colonic wall was diffusely thickened (∼5 mm), white, homogeneous and soft. Other findings were vesical uroliths and mild fibrinous pneumonia. Histologically, the colonic submucosa and muscle layers were expanded and almost completely replaced by sheets of adipose tissue admixed with scant fibrovascular tissue. Other minor changes included mild fibrinous pneumonia, splenic lymphoid depletion and testicular atrophy. The colonic changes in the current case are consistent with those described for DIGIL. This is a rare condition in human beings and animals and has never been described in pigs.