Case Study

Pancreatic necrosis in a 10 year old MN Husky

A 10-year-old NM Husky was presented for evaluation of acute onset weakness and abdominal pain after getting into garbage with pork remains overnight. Physical examination revealed hemorrhagic diarrhea, few bouts of vomiting, and pyrexia. Abnormalities on CBC and serum biochemistry were monocytosis, azotemia, bilirubinemia, and elevated proteins.

DX

Pancreatic necrosis pattern with severe duodenitis

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Pancreatic necrosis pattern with severe duodenitis, possible bowel infarction.

Image Interpretation

The stomach was dilated with fluid. The duodenum was significantly thickened with some loss of detail. Stasis in the stomach was noted owing to tethering of the upper duodenum by the pancreatic pathology.

Severe, mixed hypoechoic pancreatic changes were noted with regional peritonitis and localized free fluid.

Comments

Surgical intervention with debridement of the necrotic pancreatic tissue would be necessary. However, this is a particularly aggressive presentation.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

Pancreas – acute pancreatitis, neoplasia
GIT – foreign body, neoplasia, intussusception, granuloma, ulceration
Renal – chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury