Case Study: Mammary Hyperplasia in a Cat (PDF)

**Name:** **Date:** **Curriculum Year:** **A CASE ON SUSPECTED MAMMARY HYPERPLASIA IN A 1-YEAR-OLD PERSIAN CAT** **ABSTRACT** **Background:** Patient had all seven mammary glands hypertrophied 3 days prior to check-up. It never queened but was on heat 1 week before the appearance of clinical sig...

**Name:** **Date:** **Curriculum Year:** **A CASE ON SUSPECTED MAMMARY HYPERPLASIA IN A 1-YEAR-OLD PERSIAN CAT** **ABSTRACT** **Background:** Patient had all seven mammary glands hypertrophied 3 days prior to check-up. It never queened but was on heat 1 week before the appearance of clinical signs. Subjected for spay and mastectomy but suddenly died even before the procedures. Necropsied immediately after death. **Tentative Diagnosis:** Hormone-induced Feline Mammary Hyperplasia **Cause of Death:** Presumably due to cardio-respiratory arrest triggered by the induction of anesthethics **INTRODUCTION** **This benign condition is characterized by rapid abnormal growth of one or more mammary glands. There are two basic types of hyperplasia of the feline mammary gland---lobular hyperplasia and fibroepithelial hyperplasia. Lobular hyperplasia is seen as palpable masses in one or more mammary glands in intact cats 1--14 yr old. Fibroepithelial hyperplasia occurs in young, cycling, or pregnant cats; in old, intact females and males; and in neutered males after treatment with progestins.** **CASE PRESENTATION** The cat named Akira, was brough to the clinic due to "mammary enlargement" (see figure 1). The owner said she noticed the enlargement 3 days prior to check-up. Akira was already inappetent even before the presentation of the disease. It was also noted that the cat went into heat 1 week ago before the clinical signs developed. Akira never queened, not even once according to the owner. Clinical signs presented upon check up were: \*Fever (40°C) \*Tachypnia \*Hypersalivation \*Lethargy Necropsy was immediately after death. **DIAGNOSIS** Aside from assessment of history and clinical signs presented, complete blood count was performed and results revealed a decrease in RBC count and an increase in WBC count. No further tests such as x-ray was done due to financial constraints. Post mortem examination was performed to further assess the cause of death as well as the extent and severity of the disease process. **NECROPSY** Figure 2 shows the unfolded skin underneath the mammary glands. All masses were not rooted on to the muscle tissues Figure 3 below shows the resected mammary glands and resected ovaries and uterus (horns + body). Each mammary gland weighed 100g on the average and measured almost half the scalpel holder. The left ovary was hyperplastic Further incision into the abdominal cavity showed that there was a presence of cloudy or turbid abdominal fluid accumulation (figure 4). Other organs were check but there was no tumor metastasis from other organs **Figure 4 below shows the 2 inflamed kidneys. Both kidneys were enlarged, hemorrhagic, and fluid filed (resembles that of hydronephrosis). Incised sections of the kidneys showed congested blood vessels** **While on Figure 5, the image shows fibrinous pericarditis. Notice the cloudy white discoloration of the pericardial sac. Upon incision, fluids were also present from the pericardial sac.**  **Aside from the organs previously showed, there were no noticeable or significant changes observe from the visceral organs. Other thoracic and abdominal organs showed apparently normal appearances.** **TREATMENT** Treatment involved: IV fluids, Ampicillin-Sulbactam IV, Dexamethasone IV, Dextrolyte IV, Tramadol IV. The patient was subjected to ovariohysterectomy since feline mammary hyperplasia were suspected. Further, Mastectomy was another option if the masses did not regress after ovariohysterectomy. However, Akira the cat died prior to surgery, after induction of injectable anesthetics and was necropsied immediately after death. **PROTOCOLS** **Ovariohysterectomy or mastectomy is curative, although spontaneous remissions occur. Ovariohysterectomy is followed by regression of the glands and prevents recurrence.** **DISCUSSION** **Feline mammary hypertrophy is considered to be a hormone-dependent dysplastic change in the mammary gland. Hyperplasia occurs within 1--2 wk after estrus or 2--6 wk after progestin treatment. The tremendously enlarged glands may appear erythematous, and some of the skin may be necrotic. Edema of the skin and both hindlegs is common, and the condition can easily be confused with acute mastitis.** **CONCLUSION** **Histopathology results are needed in order to rule out the definitive diagnosis of mammary enlargements and necropsy alone is not enough to make a final/definite diagnosis**