THE RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF PRIMARY LIVER NEOPLASIA IN DOGS

The signalment, anamnesis, and histopathologic, gross pathologic, and radiographic findings in 22 dogs with nonvascular, nonhematopoletic primary liver tumors were reviewed. The tumor types represented were hepatoma (8), bile duct cystadenoma (1), hepatocellular carcinoma (5), and cholangiocellular carcinoma (8). The dogs averaged 11.1 years of age. Females were predisposed to cholangiocellular carcinoma. The most common presenting clinical signs were general malaise, anorexia, PU/PD, vomiting, and seizures. Tumors ranged in size from diffuse 0.5-1 cm nodules to an 18-cm solitary mass and were located in any of the liver lobes. Four of the five diffuse tumors were cholangiocellular carcinomas. The most common radiographic appearance for any type of liver tumor was a right cranial abdominal mass causing caudal and left gastric displacement. In 54.5% of the dogs, radiographic evidence of intraperitoneal disease was identified. Nodular interstitial pulmonary masses were seen in 3 of the 22 dogs.