From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-10-12 02:30:33 UTC
Subject: RE: Need help from vets -- liver cyst
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <345550.1065925833934.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> The radiologist's diagnosis of Chocolate Moose's ultrasound states that "thoracic radiographs show air bronchograms" and abdominal radiographs show an enlarged spleen. "There is a 1 cm cyst in the liver parenchyma. The gall bladder is mildly distended" and the urinary bladder is distended. Otherwise, organs, including the heart, appear normal and no masses or calculi are noted.
> The diagnosis is "possible lymphoma of the liver and spleen." They recommended fine-needle aspirates, though I don't know what good that would do.
> What I want to know is, would a 1-cm cyst in the liver, which seems huge for a ferret, cause significant pain and cause ALP and ALT go to up?
> Thanks.
> Linda and Chocolate Moose
Dear Linda:
Liver cysts don't generally cause pain, and would not cause the ALP or ALT to go up. ALP and ALT are common elevated in animals that are not eating especially well, as peripheral fat stores are mobilized, and fat floods the liver.
I thing the digagnosis of possible splenic lymphoma is probably made primarily on the enlargement of the spleen, and I'm not really sure why they think there is liver involvement (elevated liver enzymes)?
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM