Focal Fatty Liver in a Heifer: Utility of Ultrasonography in Diagnosis

Abstract

ABSTRACT. A 30-month-old Holstein heifer presented with a history of decreased appetite and respiratory signs. Sonographic examination of the liver incidentally revealed an area of increased echogenicity between the portal vein and the gallbladder. The lesion was nonspherical and had no mass effect or displacement of the adjacent vessels. Its boundaries, to the liver, were geographic. The liver specimen was histologically compatible with a diagnosis of focal fatty liver change (FFLC). The sonographic features of focal fatty infiltration of the liver are characteristic. Recognition of the ultrasonographic data is important to differentiate FFLC from other lesions. KEY WORDS: bovine, focal fatty liver change, ultrasonography.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 66(3): 341-344, 2004 In dairy cows, diagnosis of fatty infiltration of the liver has been based mostly on history, clinical signs and biochemical analyses. Recently, ultrasonography (US) has been used in the evaluation of fatty infiltration in dairy cows [1,2], and the findings obtained agreed with the results of histologic examination of liver biopsy specimens. Focal fatty liver change (FFLC) is a pathological condition that has been recognized with increasing frequency, with the widespread use of US [8]. The cause of FFLC has not been clarified, although some authors have speculated that the regional disturbance of intrahepatic portal blood flow may be an important factor [3,7]. Hepatic US in humans with FFLC demonstrates the presence of focal hyperechogenicity in a relatively non-echogenic organ [9,12]. These focal areas, which may vary widely in size, shape and border characteristics, are generally observed in the periportal area, near the gallbladder [11]. A search of the veterinary literature disclosed little information in cattle [6]. In this note, we present a heifer demonstrating unusual infiltration of fat into the liver. The ultrasonographic, laboratory and clinicopathologic findings of the case are documented.A 30-month-old Holstein heifer presented at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Rakuno Gakuen University for investigation of decreased appetite and respiratory signs. Cattle in the same herd had experienced some periparturient diseases such as mastitis, ketosis and fatty liver. On the first examination, the animal was thin, had only a moderate appetite, 38°C rectal temperature, 80 beats/min pulse rate and 16 breaths/min respiratory rate. Rumen movements were decreased. Auscultation of the thorax revealed hypervesicular sounds especially on the carnioventral lung lobes. Blood gas analysis was consistent with moderate hypoxaemia. Arterial blood gas results were PaO 2 , 62.9 mmHg, PaCO 2 , 49.8 mmHg and pH 7.47. ECG recordings did not reveal any abnormal findings. Higher activity of aspartate aminotransferase (319 IU/l) and high concentrations of total bilirubin (0.90 mg/dl) indicated a moderate degree of hepatic impairment. The thorax and the abdomen were scanned from dorsal to ventral, by means of an ultrasound scanner equipped with a 3.5 MHz linear transd...

Ultrasonographic evaluation to diagnose hepatic lipidosis in Egyptian Zaraibi goats with vitamin B12 deficiency

“…Observed focal lesions had various shapes, dimensions and localization. A similar finding was recorded by Mohamed et al [24] who described the focal fatty liver changes in cattle as unevenly distributed lesions, with geographic boundaries and not associated with the displacement of adjacent vessels. Moreover, in humans, focal fatty liver changes were observed with various echogenic patterns, shapes, dimensions and localization [29].…”

“…In small ruminants, ultrasonography was found to be an efficient tool for the diagnosis of hyadatidosis [18] and fascioliasis [19] and in the secondary hepatic changes in sheep with various diseases causing right-sided heart failure [20,21] and subclinical liver lesions [22]. Ultrasonographic findings of focal and diffuse fatty liver changes in cattle are clearly documented [23,24]. However, ultrasonographic and clinicopathological findings of hepatic lipidosis caused by cobalt deficiency in goats have not been described.…”

Ultrasonography of the Liver in Cattle

“…In rare cases, multifocal areas of fat deposition can be recognized in the liver (Fig. 9) [35]. These fatty areas are intensely echogenic and contrast the rest of the hepatic parenchyma.…”

Ultrasonography as a diagnostic and prognostic approach in cattle and buffaloes with fatty infiltration of the liver

“…The degree of response to treatment was evaluated at three parallel levels: repeated examinations of hepatic ultrasonograms, laboratory tests and histological examination of liver specimens. Liver parenchyma was biopsied (Mohamed et al 2004b) and specimens were fixed in neutral buffered 10% formalin and processed routinely for staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The condition of six cows and seven buffaloes has improved gradually and steadily.…”