Case Study

Chronic hepatitis, portal fibrosis, lipogranulomas, lipidosis in a 6 year old FS Doberman Pinscher dog

A 6-year-old FS Doberman Pinscher was presented for partial anorexia. Physical examination was normal. CBC and blood chemistry analysis revealed moderate neutrophilia and left shift, stable mildly elevated SAP, and a rising moderately elevated ALT. Urinalysis was normal.

A 6-year-old FS Doberman Pinscher was presented for partial anorexia. Physical examination was normal. CBC and blood chemistry analysis revealed moderate neutrophilia and left shift, stable mildly elevated SAP, and a rising moderately elevated ALT. Urinalysis was normal.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Given the suspected interlacing fibrosis, primary consideration is given to chronic inflammatory hepatopathy/cholangitis or emerging cirrhosis. Neoplasia is considered less likely.

Image Interpretation

Transverse view of the left liver and gallbladder demonstrates irregular, lobulated serosal margins (arrow.) Multiple ill-defined, mildly echogenic striations are present throughout the left liver. The hepatic echotexture is diffusely and mildly heteroechoic. Intrahepatic displacement of the portal vasculature has resulted in a nonlinear appearance (arrow.)

DX

Chronic hepatitis with mild portal fibrosis, multifocal lipogranulomas, and mild hepatic lipidosis.

Outcome

The patient developed further anorexia, portal hypertension, and rapid albumin depletion with resulting ascites. The patient was euthanized 4 weeks after histopathologic diagnosis owing to clinical decline.