Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Detecting insulinoma tumors in cats using contrast ultrasound
By Mario Cervone et al.·Published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports·2019·View original on DOAJ →
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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the detection of a feline insulinoma
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old cat was brought in after experiencing ataxia (loss of coordination), seizure-like episodes, vomiting, and weight loss for two weeks. Blood tests showed very low blood sugar levels and high insulin, leading to an abdominal ultrasound that found a mass in the pancreas. A special imaging technique called contrast-enhanced ultrasonography confirmed the mass and revealed additional nodules. The cat underwent surgery to remove part of the pancreas, and tests confirmed it had an insulinoma (a type of tumor that produces insulin). Unfortunately, six months later, the cat developed severe constipation and was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, leading to its euthanasia a month later due to ongoing health issues.
People also search for: cat seizure symptoms · insulinoma in cats · cat vomiting and weight loss · cat colorectal cancer treatment
Abstract
Case summary A 14-year-old cat was presented with a 2-week history of ataxia, seizure-like episodes, vomiting and weight loss. Serum biochemistry revealed severe hypoglycaemia, associated with low serum fructosamine and high insulin concentrations. On abdominal ultrasound, a focal hypoechoic well-defined mass in the left limb of the pancreas was identified and the presence of an additional smaller nodule was suspected. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) confirmed the presence of both lesions and revealed a third, even smaller nodule. Partial pancreatectomy was performed. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of a multifocal insulinoma. Six months later, the cat presented with tenesmus and obstipation. A colorectal adenocarcinoma was diagnosed with histopathology after partial excision of a colorectal mass. The cat was euthanased a month later owing to recurrent episodes of severe obstipation. Relevance and novel information This is the first clinical description of the use of CEUS in the diagnosis of feline insulinoma. Furthermore, the available scientific literature on feline insulinoma was reviewed.
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 DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1177/2055116919876140