started on amplodipine (0.18 mg/kg
PO q12h). He also developed ascites,
likely due to some degree of portal
hypertension
as
well
as
hypoproteinemia. This resolved slowly
over time.
Histopathology:
The liver mass was identified as an
undifferentiated sarcoma.
The
pathology
report
could
not
definitively differentiate between a
fibrosarcoma or a leiomyosarcoma.
The tumor was excised completely with
2-3mm margins. The tissue consisted
of spindle cells forming bundles at
various
angles.
Nuclei
were
pleomorphic, oval, and had prominent
nucleoli. Three to four mitotic figures
were noted per high power field. Large
areas of necrosis were noted as well.
Figure 2: Right ventro-dorsal projection
- Note large soft tissue opacity
occupying the right cranial abdomen
(solid arrow) and left displaced stomach
(hatched arrow).
for the following 4 days with pain
medication (tramadol 3.4mg/kg q8-
12h PO, gabapentin 10mg/kg q12h
PO, fentanyl CRI), antibiotics (unasyn
30mg/kg q8h IV, enrofloxacinn 10mg/
kg q24h IV and metronidazole 10mg/
kg q12h IV) LRS fluids (60ml/kg/day)
and Vetstarch (40 ml/kg/day). He
developed hypoalbuminemia (1.6
mg/dL; 2.7-3.9 mg/dL) and received
25% human albumin transfusion.
Gizmo also developed hypertension
of 170 mmHg (via Doppler) and was
Discussion:
Primary hepatic tumors of dogs are
uncommon
and
account
for
approximately 0.6% to 1.5% of all
canine tumors 1 . Metastatic disease
of the liver occurs 2.5 times more
frequently
than
primary
liver
neoplasia with the primary sites
being
spleen,
pancreas
or
2,3
gastrointestinal tract. Therefore it
is very important to perform full
staging including 3-view thoracic
radiographs, abdominal radiographs
and ultrasound or CT of thoracic and
abdominal
cavities
to
help
differentiate
primary
versus
metastatic liver disease.
There are four basic categories of
malignant hepatobiliary tumors in
dogs
and
cats:
hepatocellular
(hepatocellular
carcinoma,
hepatocellular
adenoma,