Exocrine pancreatic neoplasia is rare in dogs and cats, and most are secondary tumors. Clinical signs are nonspecific, leading to a late diagnosis in most cases. Diagnosis is primary by ultrasonography or radiology, with confirmation by cytology or histopathology. Surgical excision can be attempted, but is typically unsuccessful.
Neoplasias of the exocrine pancreas are quite rare in dogs and cats, can be primary or secondary, and can be classified as benign or malignant.
Pancreatic adenomas are benign tumors that are usually singular and can be differentiated from pancreatic nodular hyperplasia by the presence of a capsule. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common primary neoplastic condition of the exocrine pancreas in dogs and cats but is rare overall in both species. However, most exocrine pancreatic neoplasms in dogs and cats are secondary. Most exocrine pancreatic malignant neoplasms are diagnosed late in the disease process, can often not be completely removed surgically, and carry a poor prognosis.
Pathogenesis of Pancreatic Neoplasms in Dogs and Cats
Benign neoplasms of the exocrine pancreas can lead to transposition of organs of the cranial abdominal cavity. However, these changes are subclinical in most cases, and the diagnosis is often made as an incidental finding during necropsy. In rare cases, the neoplastic growth can obstruct the pancreatic duct and cause secondary atrophy of the remaining exocrine pancreas, leading to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Adenocarcinomas may lead to tumor necrosis if the tumor outgrows its blood supply. Tumor necrosis causes local inflammation, which can lead to clinical signs of pancreatitis. Malignant neoplasms may also spread to neighboring or distant organs.
Clinical Findings of Pancreatic Neoplasms in Dogs and Cats
The presentation of dogs and cats with exocrine pancreatic neoplasia is nonspecific, and many cases remain subclinical until late in the disease process. Some animals show clinical signs suggestive of pancreatitis. Obstructive jaundice may be seen if bile duct obstruction develops. Clinical signs related to metastatic lesions have also been reported in some cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and may present as lameness, bone pain, or dyspnea. Finally, paraneoplastic alopecia has been reported in cats with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Diagnosis of Pancreatic Neoplasms in Dogs and Cats
Diagnostic imaging, confirmed by cytology or histopathology
CBC, chemistry profile, and measurement of pancreatic markers (eg, serum lipase activity, serum PLI concentration) are all nonspecific in dogs and cats with exocrine pancreatic neoplasia.
Radiographic findings are also nonspecific in most cases. Abnormal findings include decreased contrast in the cranial abdomen suggesting peritoneal effusion, transposition of the spleen caudally, and shadowing in the pyloric region. In some cases, abdominal radiographs suggest a cranial abdominal mass. Abdominal ultrasonography generally shows a soft-tissue mass near the pancreas, but in many cases, continuation of the mass with pancreatic tissue cannot be conclusively demonstrated. Also, neoplastic lesions of neighboring organs may be falsely presumed to be of pancreatic origin. Finally, animals with severe pancreatitis may show a mass effect in the area of the pancreas on abdominal ultrasonography that must not be confused with a pancreatic neoplasia.
If peritoneal effusion is present, a sample should be aspirated and evaluated cytologically. However, in most cases neoplastic cells do not readily exfoliate into the peritoneal effusion, and no neoplastic cells are identified on cytology. Fine-needle aspiration or transcutaneous biopsy under ultrasonographic guidance can be attempted when suspicious masses are identified. However, in many cases, the diagnosis is made at exploratory laparotomy or necropsy.
Treatment and Prognosis of Pancreatic Neoplasms in Dogs and Cats
Typically unsuccessful, with a poor prognosis
Pancreatic adenomas are benign and theoretically do not require therapy unless they cause clinical signs due to the effects of an intra-abdominal space-occupying lesion. However, because the final diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is often made at exploratory laparotomy, a partial pancreatectomy should be performed even in cases of suspected pancreatic adenoma. The prognosis in these cases is excellent.
Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinomas often present at a late stage of the disease, and metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis is quite common in both dogs and cats. Common sites for metastasis are the liver, abdominal and thoracic lymph nodes, mesentery, intestines, and the lungs, but other metastatic sites have also been reported. In those few cases when gross metastatic lesions are not identified at the time of diagnosis, surgical resection of the tumor may be attempted, but clean surgical margins can almost never be achieved, and owners should be forewarned. Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy have shown little success in human or veterinary patients with pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Thus, the prognosis for dogs and cats with pancreatic adenocarcinoma is grave.
Key Points
A diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic neoplasia can only be confirmed by cytology or histopathology.
Treatment of dogs or cats with a pancreatic adenocarcinoma is largely unsuccessful.
