Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with liver cysts diagnosed with lymphocytic cholangiohepatitis
By Sathidpak Nantasanti Assawarachan et al.·Published in Animals·2022·Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan rd., Lat Yao, Jatujak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Feline Cyst-like Lymphocytic Cholangiohepatitis in a Cat: First Case Report
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old female domestic short-haired cat was brought to the vet because her belly was swollen. An ultrasound showed that her liver was filled with large cysts, but blood tests showed her liver function was normal. After trying a medication called praziquantel without success, the vet performed surgery to take a closer look and found a rare condition called cyst-like lymphocytic cholangiohepatitis. The cat was treated with oral prednisolone for 12 weeks, which significantly improved her liver condition, and 23 months later, there were no signs of the cysts returning.
People also search for: cat swollen belly · cat liver cyst treatment · domestic short-haired cat liver disease
Abstract
A 5-year-old female neutered domestic short-haired cat presented with abdominal enlargement. An abdominal ultrasound revealed that large multiple hepatic cysts with irregular walls, hypoechoic fluid, and internal septations occupied most of the liver parenchyma. Serum liver enzymes, bilirubin, and bile acids concentrations were within normal limits. A fecal examination using simple floatation and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques was negative for liver fluke (<i>Platynosomum fastosum</i>), intestinal protozoa, and other helminth eggs. Praziquantel was prescribed for two distinct courses one month apart without obvious improvement of the hepatic cysts. An abdominal laparotomy and histopathological examination finally enabled diagnosis of cyst-like lymphocytic cholangiohepatitis of the liver tissue. Twelve weeks of oral prednisolone resulted in marked ultrasonographic improvement of the hepatic cysts. The liver parenchyma was heterogeneous and filled with multiple small anechoic cavities. Twenty-three months after ceasing the prednisolone, there was no recurrence of hepatic cysts.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233278