J Vet Sci.  2007 Mar;8(1):103-105. 10.4142/jvs.2007.8.1.103.

Hepatocellular adenoma in a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea. daeyong@snu.ac.kr
  • 2Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.

Abstract

A 7-year-old female Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) at the Seoul Grand Park, Korea, died after displaying depression, anorexia, weight loss and rough skin for several days. At necropsy, a solitary friable round mass, which was approximately 12 x 9 x 5 cm and mottled dark red and yellow, was found bulging from the right hepatic lobe. Microscopically, the nonencapsulated, poorly circumscribed mass was composed of solid sheets of neoplastic hepatocytes. In addition, numerous small tan foci, ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 cm in diameter, were evenly scattered throughout the pancreatic tissue. These foci were found to be nonencapsulated, well-demarcated hyperplastic nodules of the exocrine pancreatic gland. We observed neither intrahepatic nor extrahepatic metastases. Based on the gross and microscopic changes, we diagnosed the animal as having a hepatocellular adenoma accompanied by exocrine pancreatic nodular hyperplasia.

Keyword

Eurasian otter; hepatocellular adenoma; Lutra lutra; tumor

MeSH Terms

Adenoma, Liver Cell/*pathology/*veterinary
Animals
Fatal Outcome
Female
Korea
Liver Neoplasms/*pathology/*veterinary
*Otters
Pancreas, Exocrine/pathology

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Liver. Note a solitary friable large round mass approximately 12 × 9 × 5 cm in the right hepatic lobe.

  • Fig. 2 Cut surface of mass in Fig. 1. Confluent areas of necrosis and hemorrhage were noted.

  • Fig. 3 Pancreas. Numerous small tan foci ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 cm in diameter were evenly scattered throughout the pancreatic tissue.

  • Fig. 4 Liver. Portal triads were not clearly recognizable due to invasion of neoplastic hepatocytes. The bile ducts were completely obliterated by neoplastic cells. H&E stain. bar = 20 µm.


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