Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Osseous metaplasia within a canine insulinoma.
- Journal:
- Veterinary clinical pathology
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Pieczarka, Emily M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old male mixed-breed dog was brought to the vet because he was having trouble exercising, was weak in his legs, and had low blood sugar that wouldn't improve. An ultrasound of his abdomen showed two lumps in the pancreas, and tests on one of these lumps suggested it was a type of cancer called insulinoma, which affects hormone-producing cells. Further testing confirmed this diagnosis and also revealed that part of the tumor had developed bone-like tissue, which is unusual for this type of cancer. This case is notable because it's the first time this specific change has been reported in an insulinoma.
Abstract
An 11-year-old male castrated mixed-breed dog was presented for exercise intolerance, tetraparesis, and persistent hypoglycemia. Abdominal ultrasound examination revealed 2 nodules within the right limb of the pancreas. Cytology from one nodule was consistent with a carcinoma of neuroendocrine origin, with a primary differential diagnosis of insulinoma. Histologic evaluation and immunohistochemistry for synaptophysin and insulin confirmed the diagnosis of insulinoma. Additionally, there was a solitary nodule of mineralized compact bone composing approximately 60% of the mass. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of osseous metaplasia within an insulinoma (islet cell carcinoma).
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24446791/