Lipid emboli in a Vietnamese potbellied pig (Sus scrofa)

A 2-year-old, spayed female Vietnamese potbellied pig (Sus scrofa) was evaluated due to polyuria, polydipsia, lethargy, and hyporexia. The pig was obese, and a large abdominal mass was palpated. Additional findings included hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, glucosuria, and an inflammatory leukogram. At...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation 2012-05, Vol.24 (3), p.625-629
Main Authors: Newkirk, Kim M., Fineschi, Vittorio, Kiefer, Virginia R., VanAmstel, Sarel R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdominal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Abdominal Neoplasms - pathology
Abdominal Neoplasms - surgery
Abdominal Neoplasms - veterinary
Animals
Embolism, Fat - diagnostic imaging
Embolism, Fat - pathology
Embolism, Fat - surgery
Embolism, Fat - veterinary
Fatal Outcome
Female
Immunohistochemistry - veterinary
Radiography
Swine
Swine Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Swine Diseases - pathology
Swine Diseases - surgery
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Summary:A 2-year-old, spayed female Vietnamese potbellied pig (Sus scrofa) was evaluated due to polyuria, polydipsia, lethargy, and hyporexia. The pig was obese, and a large abdominal mass was palpated. Additional findings included hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, glucosuria, and an inflammatory leukogram. At surgery, the abdominal mass was biopsied and found to be bilaterally symmetric adipose tissue with mineralization and granulomatous steatitis. An additional surgery was performed to collect additional diagnostic samples, but the pig died while recovering from anesthesia. A cosmetic necropsy was performed, and lipid emboli were identified microscopically in various tissues. The presence of lipid emboli in the lung and kidney was supported by antifibrinogen immunohistochemistry. Obesity is a common finding in potbellied pigs; however, mineralization and saponification of fat are uncommon, particularly the bilateral symmetrical distribution found in the abdomen of the present case. This may present as a single intra-abdominal mass complicating diagnostic interpretation. Whether mineralization and saponification of fat facilitate the development of fat embolism is undetermined. Lipid emboli should be considered in obese pigs undergoing medical or surgical procedures. Factors that may predispose to the development of fat embolism, such as excessive handling or bruising of fat stores, should be avoided.
ISSN:1040-6387
1943-4936
DOI:10.1177/1040638712442879