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Case report
Summary
Paskalev, M., L. Lazarov & A. Atanasov, 2012. A case of solitary renal cyst in a dog. Bulg.
J. Vet. Med., 15, No 1, 62−67.
A clinical case of solitary renal cyst in a dog is described. The literature review showed that the dis-
ease was more common in some cat breeds than in dogs. By means of blood laboratory analysis, ul-
trasonography and radiology, tentative and differential diagnoses were made. The disease was con-
firmed intraoperatively, and then a nephrectomy was performed. The patient’s follow-up continued
for 4 months after the surgery and no deviations from the general and surgical state were observed.
Based on literature evidence and the outcome, it was concluded that when the contralateral kidney is
properly functioning, the removal of the cyst together with the kidney was the better therapeutic ap-
proach.
Key words: dog, operative treatment, renal cyst
Renal cysts are more commonly encoun- size in a mixed-breed dog (Zatelli et al.,
tered in cats than in dogs. They appear 2008). The clinical signs of the disease
both in the tubular system of the nephron are non-specific and include abdominal
as well as subcapsularly. Some of them distention, vomiting, anorexia, polydipsia,
are formed during the organogenesis in polyuria and weight loss (Northington &
the embryonic period, while others appear Juliana, 1977; Biller, 1990). In most in-
lately in the ontogenesis due to various stances, cysts are discovered accidentally
reasons. In the literature, reports about during ultrasonography or radiography on
polycystic kidney disease in cats are more a different occasion. Ultrasonography is a
frequently encountered, with higher inci- non-invasive readily available technique
dence among long-haired breeds (Batter- of choice for diagnosis of cystic lesions of
shell & Gareia, 1969; Rendano & Parker, kidneys. Cysts, regardless of their loca-
1976; Crowell, 1979; Lulich, 1988; Biller, tion, are visualized as round, anechoic
1990). The age of affected cats ranged zones with smooth borders and increased
between 1 to 10 years. echogenicity of the tissues behind them.
Two cases of polycystic kidney dis- Cysts with diameter size 1 cm or more are
ease are described in a Cairn Terrier and a well seen. When cysts are multiple, the
Belgian malinois dog (McKenna & Car- ultrasonographic image is similar to that
penter, 1980; Ramos-Vara et al., 2004) as of hydronephrosis. From differential diag-
well as an obstructive renal cyst 26 mm in nostic point of view, kidney malignancies
M. Paskalev, L. Lazarov & A. Atanasov
should also be considered (Timev et al., dominal cavity, behind the stomach and
2009). From the point of view of the over the spleen (Fig. 1). Proximally, it did
treatment options, nephrectomy is recom- not reach the thoracic and lumbar verte-
mended due to the risk of infection (Bat- brae. Its structure was homogeneous with
tershell & Gareia, 1969). To our best sharp and regular borders. In ventrodorsal
knowledge, literature data about solitary view, the mass was delineated rather in
renal cysts in dogs are not reported. the left and contacted the left abdominal
On 27 August 2009, a 12-year-old fe- wall. The density of the shadow was simi-
male Miniature Pinsher weighing 3.6 kg lar to that of parenchymal organs (liver
was referred for examination at the Small and spleen).
Animal Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary The ultrasonography of the abdomen
Medicine, Stara Zagora with a 5-day his- showed a round, anechoic area with
tory of refusal of food but not water, fever smooth borders, about 7 cm in diameter,
and lethargy. The defecation was absent, linked to the cranial pole of the left kidney
but urination was normal. It received ge- (Fig. 2). About one-third to one-half of the
neral supportive drugs and antibiotics in normal renal structure was seen. The right
another clinic but no diagnosis was made. kidney was with normal size and echoic
The physical examination revealed a structure. Neither the ovaries, nor the ute-
very good body condition, yet with a dis- rus were seen.
tended abdomen. The rectal body tem- The results of blood laboratory tests
perature was 39.3 oС, heart rate 120/min-1, are shown in Table 1. At admission, there
respiratory rate 44/min-1, visible mucosae was a marked leukocytosis with mild
– pale, without coating or discharge. thrombocytopaenia, moderately elevated
Blood laboratory tests, radiography and liver transaminases, amylase and blood
ultrasonography were performed. glucose. The other haematological pa-
The lateral abdominal radiography re- rameters, blood urea and creatinine were
vealed an oval abnormal apple-sized within the reference range.
shadow, located in the middle of the ab-
BJVM, 15, No 1 63
A case of solitary renal cyst in a dog
64 BJVM, 15, No 1
M. Paskalev, L. Lazarov & A. Atanasov
BJVM, 15, No 1 65
A case of solitary renal cyst in a dog
66 BJVM, 15, No 1
M. Paskalev, L. Lazarov & A. Atanasov
diaphragmatic hernia in the cat: A case re- graphy-guided treatment using puncture
port. Journal of Small Animal Practice, aspiration and injection with ethanol.
17, 479−483. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine,
Stowater, J. L., 1975. Congenital solitary renal 19, 252−254.
cyst in a dog. Journal of the American
Animal Hosptal Association, 11, 199−203.
Timev, A., P. Panchev, P. Simeonov, M.
Georgiev, K. Yanev, D. Ormanov, P. Vas-
silev, V. Vassilev, V. Mladenov & Y. Kot-
sev, 2009. Cystic kidney disease – types.
Contemporary methods for diagnostics and Paper received 28.05.2010; accepted for
treatment. http://www.urology.bg/uronet-
publication 03.12.2010
2-2009-statiq-5 (Date last accessed August
25 2011) (BG).
Wang, X., Y. Wu, C. J. Ward, P. C. Harris &
V. E. Torres, 2008. Vasopressin directly Correspondence:
regulates cyst growth in polycystic kidney Assoc. Prof. M. Paskalev, PhD
disease. Journal of the American Society Department of Veterinary Surgery,
of Nephrology, 19, 102–108. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Zatelli, A., U. Bonfanti & P. D’Ippolito, 2008. 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Obstructive renal cyst in a dog: Ultrasono- e-mail: paskalev@uni-sz.bg
BJVM, 15, No 1 67