CT case report highlights metastatic uterine cancer in pet sow

A case report in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation spotlights an uncommon but clinically important diagnosis in companion swine: metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma identified antemortem with computed tomography in a 13-year-old Vietnamese Pot-bellied sow. According to the report abstract, CT showed diffuse multilobulated cystic and mineralized uterine masses, numerous lung nodules, and abdominal lymphadenopathy in a sow presented for five days of blood-tinged mucoid vulvar discharge, against a four-month history of intermittent coughing and weight loss. Necropsy and histology confirmed diffuse cystic endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What makes the case stand out is not just the diagnosis, but the timing of it. Published reports of endometrial adenocarcinoma in pigs are rare, and older literature shows that many cases were recognized only after euthanasia or necropsy. A 2004 JVDI case in a 16-year-old Vietnamese pot-bellied pig documented diffuse cystic endometrial hyperplasia with metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma involving lymph nodes, liver, and lung. Another report of metastatic uterine adenocarcinoma in an 8-year-old gilt similarly emphasized how uncommon these tumors are in swine, while noting pulmonary and lymph node metastases and an association with cystic endometrial hyperplasia. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

That background matters because companion pig medicine has gradually built a clearer picture of neoplasia risk in aging pot-bellied pigs. A retrospective case series from the University of Tennessee identified 63 pot-bellied pig neoplasia cases from 2004 to 2011, underscoring that tumors are not unusual in this population, even if reproductive tract malignancies remain comparatively uncommon. Separately, a successful treatment report involving an ovarian leiomyoma in a Vietnamese potbellied pig noted that uterine masses in older sexually intact pigs are more common than ovarian tumors, a practical point for clinicians evaluating intact females with vague systemic illness or reproductive signs. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

The new report’s key contribution is its use of CT as an antemortem decision-support tool. Based on the abstract, imaging helped identify not only the uterine abnormality, but also evidence of disseminated disease in the lungs and abdomen. That fits with broader veterinary imaging experience in pot-bellied pigs, where CT has already been reported as useful for diagnosing complex internal disease processes that can be difficult to characterize fully with routine workups alone. A 2024 case report in Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, for example, described CT-based diagnosis of a common bile duct abscess and secondary extrahepatic biliary obstruction in a potbelly pig, illustrating how advanced imaging is becoming more relevant in this species. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Direct expert reaction to this specific new case was limited in publicly accessible sources, but the literature around prior swine uterine adenocarcinoma cases points in a consistent direction: these tumors are rare, can metastasize, and may be linked with cystic endometrial hyperplasia in older females. The 8-year-old gilt report also noted the broader scarcity of female genital neoplasms in swine and contrasted that rarity with the much higher profile of endometrial carcinoma in women. Inference-wise, that makes each well-documented veterinary case report more valuable, because clinicians are still working from a very small evidence base when deciding how aggressively to image, stage, or surgically manage these patients. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, especially those in exotics, companion animal, and mixed practices that see pet pigs, this case sharpens the differential diagnosis for older intact sows with vulvar discharge, chronic weight loss, cough, or nonspecific decline. Pyometra, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, and other reproductive disorders may still be more familiar first considerations, but metastatic uterine neoplasia belongs on the list, particularly when respiratory signs suggest distant spread. The practical takeaway is less about how often this occurs, which still appears to be infrequent, and more about not missing a serious diagnosis in a species where advanced diagnostics may be underused. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

CT also has workflow implications. In a patient where surgery is being considered, or where pet parent counseling hinges on prognosis, identifying pulmonary nodules and abdominal lymphadenopathy before intervention can materially change recommendations. Histopathology remains the diagnostic standard, but antemortem imaging can improve case selection, staging, and communication around likely outcomes. In aging companion pigs, that may become increasingly relevant as more practices encounter oncology cases that once would have gone undiagnosed until necropsy. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: The next thing to watch is whether additional case reports or retrospective series clarify how often advanced imaging changes management in older intact pet pigs with reproductive disease, and whether earlier elective sterilization is discussed more often as a preventive strategy in this population. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)