Radiographic, ultrasonographic, and computed tomographic characteristics of a diaphragmatic liposarcoma in a meerkat (Suricata suricatta) with a splenorenal shunt

Background

Liposarcomas are malignant tumors of the adipose tissue that are locally invasive and have a high recurrence rate but low metastatic potential in dogs and cats. Portosystemic shunts (PSS) are abnormal blood vessels in which the portal system bypasses the liver and connects to the systemic vascular system. To date, there have been no reports of abdominal liposarcoma or PSS in meerkats. We aimed to report the imaging features of abdominal liposarcoma in a meerkat with a splenorenal shunt and detail the surgical procedure for liposarcoma removal, histopathologic findings, and follow-up care.

Case description

A 3-year-old spayed female meerkat (Suricata suricatta) without clear clinical symptoms was brought to the animal hospital for a checkup. A mass was observed between the right lobe of the liver and the diaphragm using several imaging modalities. The mass appeared radiolucent on radiography, partially hyperechoic on ultrasonography, heterogeneously attenuated with a fat-like area on computed tomography (CT), and was histopathologically diagnosed as a liposarcoma. Additionally, a mildly radiopaque structure caudal to the left kidney was observed on radiography and as a tubular vessel on ultrasonography, and a splenorenal shunt originating from the splenic vein and terminating in the left renal vein was confirmed on CT. There were no remarkable findings during the follow-up 7 months after surgery.

Conclusions and case relevance

We describe the imaging features of a meerkat with an abdominal liposarcoma and a splenorenal shunt. In cases of abdominal heterogeneous attenuated masses with fat-like areas on CT in meerkats, liposarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis.