Cystic hyperplasia of gall bladder in a dog

An 11 year old female dog was admitted to Veterinary Clinical Department, Bologna University, with a clinical history of anorexia, constipation and ptyalism. Clinical findings included rectal temperature of 35,3°C, depression and jaundice. The dog was euthanasied and submitted for necroscopy to our Department. Gross changes included jaundice of skin, subcutis, sclerae and a non-patency of choledoch duct. The definitive diagnosis was jaundice caused by extra-hepatic cholestasis. Microscopical examination showed an hyperplastic epithelium forming intramural cysts of the gall bladder and of the extrahepatic bile duct until the duodenum. Unlike cases described in literature where cystic hyperplasia of gall bladder doesn’t give clinical evidence, the case here reported is peculiar because this pathology is responsible of an extra-hepatic jaundice syndrome.