Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with erythrocytosis and hypoglycemia in a yearling filly.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1990
- Authors:
- Roby, K A et al.
- Affiliation:
- School of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A yearling Arabian-type filly was brought to the hospital because she was not growing well and had high levels of red blood cells, low blood sugar, and elevated liver enzymes. Unfortunately, three days after she arrived, she collapsed and quickly got worse despite treatment, leading to her being put to sleep. A post-mortem examination revealed that she had a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma, which had spread and caused bleeding in her abdomen. This type of liver tumor is very rare in horses, and the symptoms she showed, like weakness, weight loss, and not eating enough, were similar to those seen in humans with this condition. Sadly, the treatment did not work, and the filly passed away.
Abstract
A yearling Arabian-type filly with a history of poor growth, erythrocytosis, hypoglycemia, and high liver enzyme activities was admitted to the hospital for evaluation. Three days after admission, the filly collapsed, deteriorated rapidly despite treatment, and was euthanatized. A metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma with capsular rupture and hemoperitoneum were found at necropsy. Primary liver tumors are rare in horses, and hepatocellular carcinoma has been reported in only 1 other horse. The systemic manifestations of the tumor in this filly included weakness, weight loss, inappetence, erythrocytosis with tumor production of erythropoietin, persistent hypoglycemia with normal serum insulin concentrations, serum alpha-fetoprotein (normally present only during fetal life), and terminal massive hemoperitoneum, all features of the syndrome in man.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2153651/