Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog gallbladder cancer treated with laparoscopic surgery
By Franciéli Mallmann Pozzobon et al.·Published in Ciência Rural·2025·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Laparoscopic approach to well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder in a dog: a novel case report
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought in with symptoms of gallbladder inflammation and stones, which were causing discomfort. After two years of monitoring and treatment for biliary disease, the dog underwent a laparoscopic surgery to remove the gallbladder, which was found to have a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (a type of cancer). Although the surgery was successful, the dog experienced significant health decline ten months later and was ultimately euthanized. This case highlights the importance of considering cancer in dogs with gallbladder issues and suggests that laparoscopic surgery could be a useful treatment option.
People also search for: dog gallbladder cancer symptoms · laparoscopic surgery for dog gallbladder · dog euthanasia after cancer treatment
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Primary gallbladder neoplasms are rare in dogs, and the treatment of choice is surgical resection. This report addresses the case of a dog with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder that underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, an approach not previously documented in the literature. The patient presented cholecystitis, biliary concretion, and an area of intramural mineralization in the gallbladder. The patient was monitored and treated for two years due to biliary disease and subsequently underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Histopathology concluded that it was a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. Chemotherapy was initiated, but there was significant clinical deterioration ten months after the surgical procedure, and the patient was euthanized. Despite the rarity of this tumor in the species and its tendency to mimic biliary diseases, adenocarcinoma should be considered a differential diagnosis in cases involving gallbladder abnormalities. Areas of mineralization and thickening of the gallbladder wall should be investigated and treated promptly. This case demonstrated that the laparoscopic approach may be a viable option for the management of gallbladder neoplasms in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20250093