Pancreatic Nodular Hyperplasia

Introduction

Nodular hyperplasia is seen as hard pale elevations of the exocrine tissue of the pancreas in older dogs, cats and cattle. It is of no clincal significance but must be distinguished from malignant neoplasia. It is a common incidental finding but the cause is unknown.

Signalment

Older dogs, cats and cattle.

Diagnosis

There are no adverse clinical signs associated with the condition, it is an incidental finding. Nodular hyperplasia can be distinguished from neoplasia by ultrasonography, radiography and biopsy. The gross appearance is of white lobules or plaques projecting from the surface which are usually firmer than normal pancreatic tissue and do not distort adjacent tissue and are non-encapsulated. The microscopic appearance is similar to the normal glandular tissue, with non-encapsulated aggregates of acinar cells.

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References

• Blood, D.C. and Studdert, V. P. (1999) Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (2nd Edition) Elsevier Science

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