Share it:

section content

1 / 5

A 12-year-old spayed female Hound Mix was referred for hypotension and severe weakness. The patient had a history of a mast cell tumor (unknown grade), which was completely excised from the left stifle joint 5 months prior. She was also on long term NSAID therapy (firocoxib) for osteoarthrosis.

Two days prior to referral, the dog began acutely vomiting. A firm non-erythematous swelling was also appreciated in the left inguinal region. Intravenous fluids were administered at the referring veterinarian the following morning and fine needle aspirates of the left inguinal swelling were performed. By the evening, the patient became severely lethargic and had hemorrhagic discharge oozing from the inguinal swelling. The dog represented to the referring veterinarian recumbent and in shock. The left inguinal lesion had become erythematous. Dexamethasone SP, hydromorphone, and intravenous fluids were administered (doses not available). Transfer to an emergency hospital was recommended.

The patient was resuscitated on intake through the emergency room. The left inguinal swelling had progressed to severe extensive bruising of the ventral abdomen with pitting edema. Primary consideration was given to vasodilatory shock secondary to mast cell degranulation, given the patient’s history and clinical progression. Once stabilized, an abdominal ultrasound was pursued to assess for evidence of intra-abdominal neoplasia.

What's Your Diagnosis?

  • A scant volume of mildly echogenic peritoneal effusion is located in the abdomen.
  • The stomach contains a moderate amount of fluid but has normal wall layering. The duodenum and an elongated segment of jejunum contain numerous and often coalescing distally shadowing hyperechoic foci embedded within their walls, consistent with severe locally extensive ulcerations. In the affected jejunum, some of the ulcerative lesions may be full thickness, as some gas foci appear to extend to the serosal margins of the intestinal wall. No gas foci are located within the peritoneum immediately adjacent to the intestinal ulcerations and no free gas is observed elsewhere in the abdomen. The ulcerated duodenal and jejunal walls are also moderately circumferentially thickened with partial wall layering effacement. The ICJ and colon are normal.
  • The pancreas is moderately diffusely thickened (right pancreas: 1.6 cm), with a mildly heterogenous parenchyma. The pancreatic margins are slightly irregular and moderately hyperechoic fat surrounds the pancreas.
  • The left medial iliac lymph node is moderately enlarged (12 mm). The right medial iliac lymph node is normal in size, measuring 5 mm in thickness.
  • The left inguinal lymph node is severely enlarged (2.7 cm) and heterogenous, in addition to being surrounded by severely hyperechoic fat that distally attenuates the ultrasound beam. •
  • The ventral abdominal subcutaneous tissues are severely diffusely thickened, with thin linear hypoechoic striations coursing through hyperechoic fat.
  1. Severe locally extensive small intestinal ulcerations (duodenal and jejunal) with associated enteritis and peritonitis. Several of the intestinal ulcerations appear full thickness or nearly full thickness. There is no evidence of pneumoperitoneum.
  2. Scant volume of mildly echogenic effusion. This may represent a septic effusion, sterile inflammatory effusion, neoplastic effusion, or hemorrhage.
  3. Pancreatitis.
  4. Severe left inguinal and moderate left medial iliac lymphadenopathy. Both neoplastic infiltration and reactivity are considered.
  5. Severe diffuse thickening and edema of the ventral abdominal subcutis.

The peritoneal effusion was sampled and was consistent with a non-septic, protein rich transudate. Serial AFAST examinations were performed after the comprehensive abdominal ultrasound to monitor the peritoneal effusion. The patient was already on multiple gastrointestinal protectants (ondansetron, sucralfate, and misoprostol), however after the ultrasound, famotidine was increased from 0.5 mg/kg IV q12h to a continuous rate infusion (8 mg/kg/day). Due to concerns for potential gastrointestinal translocation, treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics was also initiated (Unasyn 28.7 mg/kg IV q8h; Baytril 14.4 mg/kg IV q24h; Metronidazole 14 mg/kg IV q12h). During hospitalization, the patient became progressively anemic (presumably secondary to GI bleeding) and had a progressive band neutrophilia. The ventral abdominal bruising and edema was also progressive, and she was painful on examination. Due to poor prognosis, humane euthanasia was elected.

A gross necropsy was performed, which confirmed a large (12 x 6 cm) left inguinal swelling. Cytology of this lesion was consistent with a mast cell tumor with regional edema and hemorrhage, suggestive of degranulation. Ulcerative enteritis of the small intestine was confirmed. There was no evidence of small intestinal rupture, however a 30 cm long segment of the small intestinal wall was severely thinned with adjacent fibrinous omental adhesions, demonstrating that the intestinal wall was severely compromised. Steatonecrosis of the adipose tissue both in and around the pancreas supported concurrent acute pancreatitis.

Discussion

Abdominal ultrasound was able to provide an antemortem diagnosis of severe ulcerative enteritis, which helped guide patient therapies and diagnostics. Gastrointestinal ulcers have been sonographically described as a focal wall thickening containing a crater-like or linear defect of gas.1-3  Gastrointestinal ulcers in patients with mast cell neoplasia is a well-documented phenomenon, occurring secondary to hyperhistaminemia.4,5  Gastrointestinal ulceration secondary to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by either NSAIDS or corticosteroid usage has also been well described.1-3,6 In this case, multiple risk factors for ulcerative enteritis were present. This patient’s ulcerative lesions may have been secondary to underlying mast cell disease, receiving both a corticosteroid and an NSAID within a 24-hour period, chronic NSAID usage, or a combination of all of the above. In the duodenum, ischemic damage secondary to the patient’s pancreatitis is also plausible.

 

References

  1. Penninck D, Matz M, Tidwell A. Ultrasonography of gastric ulceration in the dog. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 1997;38(4):308-312. doi:10.1111/j.1740-8261.1997.tb00860.x
  2. Weston PJ, Maddox TW, Hõim SE, Griffin S, Mesquita L. Diagnostic utility of abdominal ultrasound for detecting non-perforated gastroduodenal ulcers in dogs. Vet Rec. 2022;190(1):e199. doi:10.1002/vetr.199
  3. Stanton ME, Bright RM. Gastroduodenal ulceration in dogs. Retrospective study of 43 cases and literature review. J Vet Intern Med. 1989;3(4):238-244. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.1989.tb00863.x 4.
  4. Howard EB, Sawa TR, Nielsen SW, Kenyon AJ. Mastocytoma and gastroduodenal ulceration. Gastric and duodenal ulcers in dogs with mastocytoma. Pathol Vet. 1969;6(2):146-158. doi:10.1177/030098586900600205
  5. Fox LE, Rosenthal RC, Twedt DC, Dubielzig RR, MacEwen EG, Grauer GF. Plasma histamine and gastrin concentrations in 17 dogs with mast cell tumors. J Vet Intern Med. 1990;4(5):242-246. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.1990.tb03116.x
  6. Fitzgerald E, Barfield D, Lee KC, Lamb CR. Clinical findings and results of diagnostic imaging in 82 dogs with gastrointestinal ulceration. J Small Anim Pract. 2017;58(4):211-218. doi:10.1111/jsap.12631

Cytology impression smear of the left inguinal lymph node consistent with mast cell tumor

Duodenum with ulcerative enteritis (more normal stomach at the top of the image)

Gross necropsy photograph, ventral abdomen and inguinal region