Case Study

Inflamed Gallbladder Mucocele in an 8 year old Miniature Schnauzer

An 8-year-old SF Miniature Schnauzer was presented for evaluation of elevated liver enzyme activity on routine pre-anesthetic blood work. Physical examination was normal. Abnormalities on CBC and serum biochemistry were mild non-regenerative anemia (37%) and elevated ALT (295) and pre-and postprandial bile acids 101 and 98, respectively. cPL was within reference range.

Image Interpretation

The liver was mildly enlarged with uniform vacuolar hepatopathy pattern. However, the gallbladder in this patient presented an inflamed gallbladder mucocele. A double layered wall and suspended immobile debris were noted. Concentric inflammation was noted completely around the gallbladder. Minor, heterogenous parenchymal changes were noted. This is a surgical emergency. The common bile duct did not appear to be involved.

DX

Inflamed gallbladder mucocele. This is a surgical emergency. Immediate cholecystectomy is recommended.

Outcome

Cholecystectomy was performed in this patient and

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

Gall bladder – mucocele, cholecystitis, neoplasia
Liver – chronic-active hepatitis, neoplasia, reactive hepatopathy, nodular regeneration, cirrhosis

Sampling

Liver and gallbladder biopsy was performed. The gallbladder biopsy revealed a mucocele with chronic ulcerative/necrotizing, mixed, cellular and fibrosing transmural cholecystitis. Liver biopsies revealed mild, multifocal lymphoplasmacytic portal hepatitis and diffuse, moderate, hepatocellular vacuolar degeneration.