Enlargement of the liver in dogs and cats

Enlargement of the liver | Hepatomegaly in dogs and cats

Enlargement of the liver in dogs and cats may be the result of cardiac incompetence (passive congestion), Cushing's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, primary or secondary neoplasia, inflammation, abscess or cyst formation, hyperplasia, infiltrative diseases such as lipidosis or amyloidosis, or engorgement with bile.

The radiologic signs of liver enlargement in dogs and cats.

Generalized enlargement is associated with rounding of the caudoventral edge, particularly that of the left lateral lobe on the lateral view.

There is a visible increase in size. The caudal liver edge projects farther beyond the costal arch than usual.

Displacement of structures related to the liver is seen.

The stomach is displaced caudally and dorsally on the lateral view and caudally and more often to the left on the ventrodorsal view. The cranial duodenal flexure, right kidney, stomach and transverse colon are displaced caudally. The diaphragm may be displaced cranially and may show reduced excursion on fluoroscopy.

Localized masses within the liver, depending on their size and location, can cause a variety of displacements of adjacent organs. In general, masses in the right side of the liver tend to displace the stomach and duodenum to the left and dorsally, and left-sided masses tend to displace the stomach and spleen to the right and dorsally. A mass originating in the right side of the liver can displace the tail of the spleen and the right kidney caudally. Liver masses can also displace the small intestine caudally.

Occasionally, discrete or diffuse mineral opacities are seen in the liver of dogs and cats. They may be associated with neoplasia, granulomatous diseases, or parasites. Dystrophic calcification may be of no clinical significance.

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