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14-year-old neutered male Terrier Mix

September 1, 2017

Adopted 3 years post hurricane Katrina, History unknown before that time, Straining to urinate

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  • This dog had a retained testicular Sertoli cell neoplasm, with cystic changes/echogenic fluid in the prostate and prostatomegaly.
  • The material in the bladder was expected to be diagnosed as most likely inflammatory material or hemorrhage.
  • Surgery was expected as a recommendation, thoracic radiographs, and urinary culture.
  • Candidates needed to recognize that the mass in the abdomen was consistent with a retained testicle (as it had no adjacent connections to other tissues) and that the prostatic changes were secondary to being intact, and not neutered as the history stated. They also were expected to recognize the adrenals as normal and that there was suspended and dependent material in the urinary bladder.
  • Candidates struggled with this case.  Many took the history at face value, and never considered retained testicle as a differential for organ of origin, despite the fact that it was stated that prior history was unknown. Note that the history provided was the real history given with the patient.
  • Many candidates thought the prostate represented carcinoma, and did not recognize that fluid pocketing and enlargement could be cystic change and/or abscessation.