Laparoscopic surgery to treat kidney cyst in a dog

Abstract

A 12 yr old 13.5 kg male castrated Pembroke Welsh corgi was presented for evaluation of a suspected renal cyst following multiple episodes of lethargy and abdominal pain. Abdominal imaging revealed a large, thin-walled, hypoechoic cystic lesion associated with the cranial pole of the left kidney and a second smaller cystic lesion on the caudal pole. The larger cystic lesion was repeatedly drained percutaneously, but the lesion returned to initial size and clinical signs returned within weeks. Percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy achieved only transient improvement in lesion size and abdominal discomfort. Laparoscopic deroofing and omentalization of the larger left renal cystic lesion was performed. The resected cystic wall was histopathologically consistent with a renal adenoma. Abdominal ultrasonography performed 1 mo postoperatively found no recurrence of the cystic renal adenoma. Repeated ultrasonography at 3 mo postoperatively detected a small cystic lesion at the cranial pole of the left kidney, which remained static in appearance at 11 and 18 mo postoperatively. During all follow-up visits, the dog was reported to be doing well with no recurrence of clinical signs. Renal cysts causing clinical signs and renal adenomas are rare in veterinary medicine; laparoscopic deroofing and omentalization provides a minimally invasive treatment approach.