Hepatocutaneous syndrome in a Maltese, diagnosis,treatment and the value of CT in thediagnosis

摘要

A 10-year-old Maltese neutered female was presentedfor lip dermatitis and mild generalised pruritus. Onexamination, there were multiple lesions affecting theperi-oral and peri-nasal mucocutaneous junctions aswell as distal limbs. Serum chemistry and a bile acidstest were indicative of hepatocellular injury and hepaticdysfunction. Plasma amino acids were markedly depleted.Ultrasonography of the liver revealed a honeycombedappearance. A CT scan was performed to rule outa porto-vascular abnormality, hepatic or pancreaticneoplasia. Abnormalities in hepatic architecture aredescribed in this confirmed case of hepatocutaneoussyndrome (HCS) for the first time on CT. This is thefirst reported case of HCS in Hong Kong. The dog wastreated with a high-quality protein diet and amino acidstransfusions. Eleven months after presentation the dogwas still alive with good control of clinical signs.