i | P a g e Polycystic Liver Disease in a Male Cat: A Case Study

Abstract

There have been reports of polycystic liver disease (PLD) in humans, dogs, cats, hamsters, rats, deer, and even farm animals like goats and pigs. In cats, PLD typically manifests in those over one year old and resembles congenital polycystic diseases seen in humans. The case at hand involves a male Persian crossbreed cat, aged 10, presenting with bilateral abdominal distention upon physical examination. The presence of ascites and fluctuating structures within the cranial abdominal region was observed. An ultrasound examination revealed the presence of liver cysts, which appeared as multiple anechoic cystic structures. Hyperbilirubinemia and hypoalbuminemia were identified in the serum biochemistry results. Consequently, this cat with complaints of anorexia and abdominal distension was diagnosed with PLD, a condition typically asymptomatic and found incidentally, based on clinical, biochemical, and imaging findings. Transabdominal ultrasound examinations were found to be valuable in diagnosing PLD cases. It is considered that the presented case will provide useful information in veterinary medicine practice regarding clinical symptoms and diagnosis of PLD.