Clinical and imaging findings of mass‐forming chronic pancreatitis in a dog

Abstract A 7‐year‐old, spayed, female pomeranian mix presented with anorexia, diarrhoea, vomiting, severe dehydration, weight loss and faecal impaction. Diagnostic work‐up showed marked hypercholesterolaemia, increased alkaline phosphatase and amylase with normal lipase, hyperglycaemia and glycosuria, confirming diabetes mellitus, while other clinicopathological parameters were within reference intervals. Imaging revealed an ill‐defined, heterogeneously enhancing mass in the right pancreatic limb (6.6 × 5.03 × 5.5 cm; 122.953 HU in delayed phase). After stabilisation with insulin, exploratory laparotomy identified a firm, encapsulated mass adherent to mesenteric vessels; subtotal resection was performed. Histopathology confirmed mass‐forming chronic pancreatitis with extensive fibrosis, necrosis, haemorrhage, fat necrosis and disappearance of Langerhans islands, lymphocyte and more prominent macrophage infiltration fat necrosis. Management included fluid therapy, antiemetics, acid suppressants, antibiotics, insulin and dietary modification. At 16‐month follow‐up, the dog maintained excellent health with normal pancreatic function, experiencing only one resolved episode of colitis treated with sulfasalazine, probiotics and dietary management.