Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ovarian remnant syndrome and tissue regrowth in female cats
By DeNardo, G A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2001·Hickory Veterinary Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Ovarian remnant syndrome: revascularization of free-floating ovarian tissue in the feline abdominal cavity.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of nine healthy female domestic shorthair cats underwent spaying, but a piece of one ovary was left in the abdomen. Six months later, surgery revealed that most of these ovarian remnants were still alive and showed signs of normal ovarian function. However, one remnant had shrunk and became non-functional. Tests to check hormone levels and reproductive activity were not reliable indicators of the ovarian remnants' health. This study shows that ovarian tissue can survive and function even when not surgically reattached.
People also search for: cat spaying complications · ovarian remnant syndrome in cats · signs of ovarian function in cats
Abstract
Nine, healthy, intact female domestic shorthair cats were ovariohysterectomized. At the time of surgery and following removal, the major portion of one ovary was loosely sutured to the mesentery and replaced in the abdominal cavity. Six months later, an abdominal laparotomy was performed in order to retrieve the ovarian remnants. Histopathological examination of the remnants showed viable tissue and evidence of ovarian follicles or corpora lutea in eight of nine (88.9%) cats. The ninth ovarian remnant was atrophied and fibrotic. Measurement of serum estradiol and progesterone, vaginal cytology, and stimulation of estrus and ovulation with a protocol using pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) followed by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were unreliable indicators of ovarian activity in this study. Revitalization of an ovarian remnant was shown to occur in the absence of surgical implantation.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11361123/