Case Study

Intra-abdominal infarcted and abscessing lipoma diagnosed by Tru-cut biopsy and surgically removed in a 10 year old FS Labrador Retriever

A 10-year-old FS Labrador Retriever dog was presented for boarding at rDVM. On physical examination, bilateral otitis, bilateral lenticular sclerosis, and a softball sized firm mass cranial to the bladder were present. Abdominal radiographs showed a spherical mass cranial to bladder and on the right side of abdomen. Abnormalities on urinalysis were 2+ proteinuria, 1+ bilirubinuria, few amorphous phosphates, and elevated microalbumin. CBC and blood chemistry were both within normal limits.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Caudal abdominal abscess or infarcted lipoma.

Image Interpretation

A 9cm mixed hyper and hypoechoic caudal abdominal mass was noted consistent with infarcted lipoma or abdominal abscess cranial to the urinary bladder. No evidence of rupture was noted. The lesion appeared well circumscribed and resectable.

DX

Mass: moderate, chronic, necrotizing, fibrosing steatitis

Outcome

Postoperatively the patient was treated with antibiotics and NSAIDs.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

Abdominal neoplasia, abscess, cyst. The source of this mass could be any of the following: kidney, spleen, intestine, lymph node, mesentery, ovary, or uterine remnant.

Sampling

Following a normal coagulation profile, ultrasound guided biopsies were taken of the mesenteric mass. The mesenteric mass showed moderate, chronic, necrotizing, fibrosing steatitis.