Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with ovarian mass after spay surgery was not cancer
By Huber, Doroteja et al.·Published in Topics in companion animal medicine·2022·Department of Veterinary Pathology·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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 Suture Granuloma Resembling a Tumor in a Bitch.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old spayed mixed-breed dog was brought to the vet because she had lost her appetite and seemed lethargic for a week. Upon examination, the vet found she had a fever, was dehydrated, and had swollen lymph nodes, along with a tense abdomen. Imaging tests showed a large mass near her left ovary, which looked like a tumor. However, after surgery to remove the mass, it was found to be a granuloma, a type of inflammation caused by a reaction to surgical sutures. The dog recovered well after the mass was removed, highlighting the importance of further testing to identify the nature of abdominal masses.
People also search for: dog lump near ovary · dog surgery complications · mixed-breed dog loss of appetite
Abstract
Ovariohysterectomy is a common surgical procedure performed on female dogs throughout the world. One rare complication is the development of granulomas as a reaction to sutures. Granulomas can grossly and on diagnostic imaging mimic neoplasia, which can present a diagnostic challenge. We present a rare case of ovarian suture granuloma, which resembled a tumor on diagnostic imaging. A 5-year-old, spayed, mixed-breed bitch was presented for anorexia and apathy lasting for a week. On clinical examination fever, dehydration, enlarged lymph nodes, and a tense abdomen were evident. Radiology and ultrasound revealed a 9 cm x 7 cm mass at the location of the left ovary, presumed to be a tumor. The mass was removed on laparotomy and submitted for histopathology which diagnosed granulomatous inflammation as a reaction to a foreign body (most consistently with suture reaction). The current case presents a rare late complication of ovariohysterectomy in the form of a suture granuloma. The case emphasizes the need for additional diagnostic procedures for etiologic diagnosis of masses encountered in the abdomen, especially histopathology, as diagnostic imaging cannot distinguish inflammation from neoplasia.
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/35644474/