 |
This article has been peer reviewed but is awaiting expert review. If you would like to help with this, please see more information about expert reviewing. |
Pancreas, Endoscrine - Degenerative Pathology
Neoplasia
Insulin secreting neoplasms
- Adenomas and carcinomas deerived from beta cells
- Respond rapidly to iv glucose
- Can be identified by immunocytochemical means
- Dogs 5-12 years of age most commonly affected
- Older cattle, associated with periodic convulsions
Clinical signs
- Hyperinsulinism
- Hypoglycaemia - often episodic
- Neurologic signs - stupor, confusion, coma, seizures, peripheral neuropathy may also develop
Adenomas (insulinomas)
- Usually single, or less often multiple, small (1-3cm) spherical nodule, yellow to dark red, in one or more lobes
- Thin layer of fibrous tissue separates normal parenchyma
- Small islets of acinar tissue are sometimes present within the neoplasm
- Well differentiated cells
Carcinomas
- Larger than adenomas
- Multilobular
- Invasive into parenchyma and surrounding tissue
- Metastasis into lymph nodes, liver mesentery, omentum
- Few mitotic figures
Gastrinoma
Image of pancreatic garstrinoma in a dog from Cornell Veterinary Medicine
- Described in dogs, cats
- Known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in humans
- Uncommon compared to beta cell neoplasms
- Excess gastrin causes hyperacidity in the stomach and mucosal hyperplasia of the antral region causing gastric and duodenal ulceration
Clinical signs
Pathology
- Multiple variably sized neoplasms
- Increased connective tissue mass - firm
- Partiallty encapsulated
- Invade locally
- Metastases to liver and local lymph nodes are common
Glucagonoma
- Very rare
- Characterised by
- Hyperglycaemia
- Vacuolar hepatopathy
- Skin erythema with superficial necrotising dermatitis
- Diagnosis in dogs is difficult as presents together with DM