Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ultrasound shows rare kidney lymph fluid buildup in azotemic dog
By Wang, Yu et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2025·Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Imaging Diagnosis-Sonographic Features of Bilateral Renal Lymphangiectasia in an Azotemic Dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old male neutered Labrador Retriever was brought in for kidney problems, specifically azotemia (high levels of waste in the blood) and enlarged kidneys. An abdominal ultrasound showed severe swelling of the kidneys with fluid-filled cysts, indicating a condition called renal lymphangiectasia, which is a rare issue with the kidney's lymphatic vessels. Unfortunately, despite attempts to manage the condition, the dog passed away, and further examination confirmed the diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the ultrasound features of this rare kidney issue in dogs.
People also search for: dog kidney problems · Labrador azotemia treatment · renal lymphangiectasia in dogs
Abstract
A 9-year-old male neutered Labrador Retriever was referred for azotemia and bilateral renomegaly. An abdominal ultrasound revealed severe bilateral renomegaly with septated subcapsular cystic anechoic lesions, consistent with renal lymphangiectasia. Despite conservative management, the patient died. Necropsy and histopathology confirmed dilated subcapsular vascular structures. Renal lymphangiectasia is a rare, benign dilation of renal lymphatics previously reported in human medicine. This case represents the first description of sonographic features of renal lymphangiectasia in a canine patient.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40176296/