COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF KIDNEYS AND HEART ECHOGRAMS IN DOGS WITH ENDOMETRITIS AND CATS WITH PYOMETRA

According to the data provided by the Veterinary Hospital of the Saratov State Agrarian University, in the cities of Saratov, Balakovo and Engels, renal and heart failure in patients with endometritis and cats with pyometra were registered in 26.8-34.5% of all surveyed domestic animals. The results of abdominal echography, made by sick cats with pyometra and dogs with endometritis, showed the presence of renal failure of the following types: – 92.9% – glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis; – 2.4% – focal diseases (cysts); in 4.7% – hydronephrosis. In this group of animals with pathologies were identified: – pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis in 81.3%; – pathologies of a focal nature (cysts, masses) – in 4.0%; – pathologies of a hereditary nature – in 3.1%; – pathology of the collecting system, incl. hydronephrosis, nephrolithiasis in 10.7% and 0.9% of sick dogs and cats, respectively. Echographically, the signs of heart failure (pericarditis, endcardiosis) are fairly objectively detected in 60.6% of the examined patients with endometritis and in 73.5% of patients with pyometra. Moreover, the combination of renal and heart failure in sick dogs and cats is recorded in 56.79% of cases. In inflammatory diseases in dogs in this case with endometritis and cats with pyometra in acute form, ultrasound shows: an increase in size (especially dorsoventral); the contours of the kidneys are indistinct; cortico-medullary differentiation is weak; the thickness of the parenchyma is heterogeneous and uneven, the collecting system of the kidneys is expanded. Echographically, the signs of heart disease and heart failure are quite objectively detected (pericarditis – 23.97%, endcardiosis – 16.83%, arrhythmias of various origins – 44.2% and other diseases of the heart and vascular system – 14.0%), in 60, 6% of the examined sick dogs with endometritis and 73.5% of sick cats with pyometra. Moreover, the combination in sick dogs and cats of renal and heart failure is recorded in 56.79% of cases.

DIFFICULTIES IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND SURGICAL TREATMENT OF XANTOGRANULOMATOUS PYELONEPHRITIS

Purpose: The diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is primarily histological. The mandatory studies that have to be performed are: abdominal echography, excretory urography, CT, and renal angiography. Methods: The current report covers a period of 16 years (1992-2008) and presents clinical material from 9 patients with a long history of nephrolithiasis. In the past, six of them have undergone surgical or extracorporeal lithotripsy. Results and conclusion: The performed preoperative imaging studies showed kidney tumors, and the operative treatment method used was nephrectomy. The post-operative follow-up did not detect any complications in any of these patients

An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena

A 70-year old man (OL) was hospitalized due to fever (up to 40°C) associated with malaise and abdominal pain. Tests showed hypereosinophilic syndrome, and increased liver and inflammation indexes. Abdominal echography showed a nonhomogeneous liver and the spleen was enlarged. Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple abscesses on the liver. The patient reported that he had recently gone on holiday to Lake Bolsena where he had eaten raw fish. A specialist in infectious diseases confirmed that in that area there is an infestation of Opisthorchis felineus. Analysis of blood and stool samples confirmed the presence of this parasite. The patient was treated with praziquantel with resolution of fever and improvement in clinical tests and general condition. Opisthorchis felineus is a parasite that commonly infects dogs and cats. Infection is sometimes transmitted to man and is usually related to eating raw fish. The parasite enters the liver and its eggs are found in the patient’s stool samples. Acute symptoms are: fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and malaise. Hypereosinophilic syndrome and increase in liver index are typical. Chronic infection could result in cholangiocarcinoma. Presence of the parasite is confirmed through specific analysis of blood and stool. Therapy consists of praziquantel or, as second choice, abendazol. In the 20th century, there were 4 epidemics in Italy, on Lakes Trasimeno and Bolsena in Central Italy. The latest epidemic was reported in that area in summer 2012.

Recurrence of retroperitoneal fibrosis with pancreatic involvement — the importance of imaging methods

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease associated with the development of chronic inflammation and fibrogenesis in the retroperitoneal space. The disease usually manifests with acute or acute over chronic renal failure and/or urosepsis. Pancreatic involvement in RPF is rare but has been described in the literature. The diagnosis of RPF is made mainly by imaging methods. Abdominal echography scan reveals the presence of an obstruction with or without inflammation; computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging show the type and the spreading of fibrosis. Here, we report a 50-year-old female patient diagnosed with RPF during operative intervention in 2003. Initial treatment with corticosteroids and tamoxifen lead to remission. In 2007, late recurrence was observed, with tumor-like lesions over the upper, posterior, and anterior surfaces of the pancreas, spreading to intraperitoneal structures and more pronounced on the left side. Abdominal echography on day 30 showed that corticosteroid treatment lead to a decrease in the tumor-like lesions.

Un raro caso di leiomioma renale

Benign solid tumours of the kidney are rare and their anatomo-pathological features are given according to Lakey's classification. Although reports of such tumours are few (0.24%) in a wide study using abdominal echography, some post-mortem data assign an incidence of 5.2% to renal leiomyomas. The authors report a case of right kidney leiomyoma in a 69-year-old man who had undergone right radical nephrectomy. Diagnosis was only possible after the histological examination.