Congenital megaesophagus with hypertrophic osteopathy in a 6-year-old dog

Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2002 Nov-Dec;43(6):545-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2002.tb01046.x.

Abstract

Congenital megaesophagus is often sufficiently debilitating to a young puppy to result in an owner's request for euthanasia. If medically managed, some puppies may develop a functional esophagus and mature normally; in others, the dilation may persist, but nutritional support may be sufficient to allow skeletal maturation. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy or hypertrophic osteopathy is well recognized in many animal species. Pulmonary neoplasia is most commonly associated with development of the secondary bone changes, but numerous other causes exist. The chronic changes of hypertrophic osteopathy were identified in a 6-year-old German Shepherd that was debilitated by persistent congenital megaesophagus. To the investigators' knowledge, a relationship between long-term esophageal dilatation and hypertrophic osteopathy has only been reported once in a human patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Dog Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Dogs
  • Esophageal Achalasia / complications
  • Esophageal Achalasia / congenital
  • Esophageal Achalasia / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Achalasia / diagnostic imaging
  • Esophageal Achalasia / veterinary*
  • Lameness, Animal / etiology
  • Male
  • Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic / complications
  • Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic / diagnosis
  • Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic / veterinary*
  • Radiography
  • Vomiting / etiology
  • Vomiting / veterinary