ANTEMORTEM DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATITIS IN 4 CATS

The ante mortem detection of pancreatitis in four cats is reported. Cl inical findings included vomiting, lethargy and constipation in all th e cats, diabetes mellitus in two cats and severe jaundice and a vitami n K responsive coagulopathy in one cat. Serum amylase was normal in al l the cats and serum lipase was elevated in one azotaemic cat. Ultraso nography revealed predominantly hypoechoic masses in the right cranial quandrant of the abdomen of each cat. The anatomical location of thes e masses was consistent with the pancreas. Gross examination supported these ultrasonographic observations. The pancreatic lesions were char acterised histologically as acute necrotising pancreatitis, acute necr otising pancreatitis with abscessation, chronic active pancreatitis wi th cystic dilatation of the pancreatic duct causing bile duct obstruct ion and chronic active pancreatitis with nodular hyperplasia. This rep ort indicates that pancreatitis is a clinically significant disease in cats that may be diagnosed ante mortem.