Pancreatic lymphangioma and concurrent intestinal lymphangiectasia in a dog.

Abstract

A 2-year-old Border Collie presented with watery diarrhea and weight loss. Laboratory testing disclosed hypoproteinemia and abdominal imaging identified striations suggestive of intestinal lymphangiectasia and a polycystic mass contiguous with the pancreas. Clinical signs were transiently ameliorated by using prednisolone at an anti-inflammatory dosage, but hypoproteinemia recurred accompanied by ascites within 1 month. Exploratory laparotomy identified pancreatic cysts and extensive inflammation of the duodenum and jejunum, and biopsy samples were taken for histopathology. The pancreatic cyst was lined by lymphatic vessels with no atypia and surrounding collagen fibers, highly suggestive of pancreatic lymphangioma. Histopathology of jejunal biopsy samples disclosed lipogranulomatous lymphangitis and lymphangiectasia. After the laparotomy, the dog was treated with prednisolone at a physiologic dosage and a low-fat diet, and remained asymptomatic for 1 year.