title: Clinical features of progressive vacuolar hepatopathy in Scottish Terriers with and without hepatocellular carcinoma: 114 cases (1980-2013).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize signalment, clinical features, clinicopathologic variables, hepatic ultrasonographic characteristics, endocrinologic profiles, treatment response, and age at death of Scottish Terriers with progressive vacuolar hepatopathy (VH) with or without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  114 Scottish Terriers with progressive VH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic databases from 1980 to 2013 were searched for adult (age > 1 year) Scottish Terriers with histopathologic diagnoses of diffuse glycogen-like VH. Available sections of liver specimens were histologically reevaluated to confirm diffuse VH with or without HCC; 8 dogs with HCC only had neoplastic tissue available. Physical examination, clinicopathologic, treatment, and survival data were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  39 of 114 (34%) dogs with VH had HCC detected at surgery or necropsy or by abdominal ultrasonography. Histologic findings indicated that HCC was seemingly preceded by dysplastic hepatocellular foci. No significant differences were found in clinicopathologic variables or age at death between VH-affected dogs with or without HCC. Fifteen of 26 (58%) dogs with high hepatic copper concentrations had histologic features consistent with copper-associated hepatopathy. Although signs consistent with hyperadrenocorticism were observed in 40% (46/114) of dogs, definitive diagnosis was inconsistently confirmed. Assessment of adrenal sex hormone concentrations before and after ACTH administration identified high progesterone and androstenedione concentrations in 88% (22/25) and 80% (20/25) of tested dogs, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggested that VH in Scottish Terriers may be linked to adrenal steroidogenesis and a predisposition to HCC. In dogs with VH, frequent serum biochemical analysis and ultrasonographic surveillance for early tumor detection are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
authors.forename: Catherine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cortright
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Center
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Randolph
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Kellie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fecteau
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chiapella
authors.forename: Rhonda L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: A Heather
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Heidgerd
authors.forename: Melisa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Degen
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lucia
authors.forename: Hollis N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Erb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography