Localization of Pancreatic Inflammation and Necrosis in Dogs

Abstract

Few studies of the prevalence of histologic lesions of the exocrine pancreas in dogs have been reported, and none of them systematically evaluate the localization of these lesions. The purpose of this study was to describe the anatomic localization of pancreatic inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis in dogs presented for postmortem examination. Seventy-three pancreata from dogs presented for postmortem examination were evaluated and investigated for the presence of suppurative inflammation (SI), pancreatic necrosis (PN), and lymphocytic inflammation (LI). Sections that showed evidence of SI, PN, or LI also were evaluated for pancreatic fibrosis (F). The tendency for a preferred localization for SI, PN, and LI was evaluated by chi-square analysis. A total of 47 pancreata with histologic evidence of pancreatitis (SI, PN, or LI; F alone was not considered evidence of pancreatitis) were identified. Twenty-four (51.1%) had SI, 23 (48.9%) had PN, and 34 (72.3%) had LI. Of the 47 dogs with SI, PN, or LI, 28 (59.6%) had F. The distribution of SI, PN, and LI between the right and the left limb of the pancreas and among the 5 anatomic regions was random, based on a goodness-of-fit test. We conclude that pancreatic inflammation tends to occur in discrete areas within the pancreas rather than diffusely throughout the whole organ. These findings suggest that a single biopsy is insufficient to exclude subclinical pancreatitis and that there is no preferred site for pancreatic biopsy collection unless gross lesions are apparent.

Laparoscopic Diagnosis of Pancreatic Disease in Dogs and Cats

“…Several reports show that histological sections of pancreatic biopsies obtained at necropsy reveal that pancreatic disease is often not diffuse. 13,14 Although it could be assumed that the clinician biopsied an area of tissue that appeared grossly abnormal, it cannot be assumed that a single or very small number of biopsies would necessarily identify focal pathology in all animals. Some of the animals where pancreatic histopathology was described as normal may still have had pancreatic pathology that went undetected.…”

Prevalence of pancreatic, hepatic and renal microscopic lesions in post‐mortem samples from cavalier King Charles spaniels

“…This is the first study to examine the prevalence of histopathologically confirmed pancreatitis, renal and liver disease in a large population of CKCS examined post-mortem. Whilst the prevalence of pancreatitis in dogs has been examined in previous studies (Newman et al 2004 ;Watson et al 2007 ), this is the first study to focus on only one breed. This study shows that the prevalence of chronic pancreatitis in the CKCS is 51·9%, which is greater than the 34% reported in a large study looking at post-mortem samples from a variety of breeds (Watson et al 2007 ).…”

Canine Pancreatic‐Specific Lipase Concentrations in Clinically Healthy Dogs and Dogs with Naturally Occurring Hyperadrenocorticism

“…Abdominal ultrasound examination of all dogs by a board‐certified radiologist would have been helpful to detect morphologic changes in the pancreas, although benign pancreatic hypertrophy can have a similar appearance to pancreatitis in some cases. Because histologic lesions can be highly localized,30 collection of pancreatic biopsies would not have eliminated the possibility of occult inflammation. Conversely, the clinical relevance of mild histologic inflammation remains unclear 7, 31…”