Presentation
Presented for lethargy and abdominal distension over the last two weeks. Now anorexic.
Patient Data
There is severe distention of the abdomen, with marked loss of serosal detail. There is a large soft tissue opaque mass within peritoneal cavity, resulting in a caudodorsal and leftward mass effect in the regional bowel loops. There is cranial displacement of the diaphragm, resulting in marked hypoinflation. Superimposed on this mass are several angular mineral opacities.
On a subsequent projection, a gastrogram has been performed outlining the stomach. On this projection, contrast media has been aspirated and is diffusely observed throughout all lung lobes.
Case Discussion
The peritoneal mass may be neoplasia or an abscess. Possible organs of origin include liver, small bowel or cecum. Contrast aspiration.
The rabbit was euthanized for symptoms of shock and poor prognosis. The mass was identified as an abscess on necropsy, originating from the liver. A possible etiology was a chronic liver lobe torsion with subsequent necrosis and abscess formation. E. Coli was cultured from the abscess. Septic peritonitis was present.
The gastrogram was done to identify any GI tract origin of the mass and, unfortunately, resulted in aspiration of contrast medium. The stomach is displaced laterally and is not continuous with the abscess. Masses this large are often difficult to localize to a particular organ using ultrasound or even CT.
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