Resolution of a pancreatic pseudocyst with surgical excision

Abstract

A six year old, female spayed, Australian Shepherd was presented to the Cornell University Hospital for Animal’s Emergency Service with chief complaints of abdominal pain and intermittent vomiting. Clinical signs had been escalating over approximately 3 weeks. Notable physical exam findings included frequent assumption of the prayer posture and pain on cranial abdominal palpation. Multiple laboratory tests were performed and were generally unremarkable. Abdominal ultrasound showed a fluid-filled mass in the right cranial abdominal quadrant. During exploratory celiotomy the mass was found to be arising from the distal left limb of the pancreas, and was removed via partial pancreatectomy. All surrounding abdominal structures appeared normal. Histopathology and aerobic culture identified a pancreatic pseudocyst infected with Pasteurella canis. The patient recovered uneventfully from surgery and has not had recurrence of clinical signs, with a follow up time of 8 months.