CT helps diagnose metastatic uterine cancer in pet pot-bellied sow
A new case report in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation details an antemortem diagnosis of metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma in a Vietnamese Pot-bellied sow, with computed tomography central to identifying the extent of disease before death. In the 13-year-old sow, CT showed diffuse cystic and mineralized uterine masses, multiple lung nodules, and abdominal lymphadenopathy after presentation for blood-tinged mucoid vulvar discharge, intermittent coughing, and weight loss. Necropsy and histopathology later confirmed diffuse cystic endometrial hyperplasia and metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma. (deepdyve.com)
That matters because uterine neoplasia in pet pigs is uncommon in everyday practice, but not vanishingly rare in older intact females. A retrospective University of Tennessee series found neoplasia in 22 of 63 pot-bellied pig cases, with reproductive and gastrointestinal tissues most commonly affected and a mean age of 11.3 years among affected animals. Other veterinary reviews aimed at clinicians note that miniature and pot-bellied pigs can develop a meaningful burden of uterine disease as they age, likely in part because many remain intact and are not bred, leaving them exposed to years of cyclic hormonal stimulation. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
The new report also fits with a limited but important historical record. A prior swine case review noted that only a handful of uterine adenocarcinoma cases had been reported in pigs, and specifically referenced an earlier 16-year-old Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig with diffuse cystic endometrial hyperplasia and metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma involving the liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. In that context, the current case appears less like an outlier and more like another signal that advanced uterine malignancy should stay on the list for older intact sows presented for weight loss, discharge, or respiratory signs. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
What stands out here is the imaging angle. In many mixed or exotic animal settings, chronic cough in a pig could easily steer the workup toward primary respiratory disease, while vulvar discharge might prompt a narrower reproductive focus. CT helped connect those findings, showing both the uterine primary lesion and likely metastatic spread in one exam. That kind of staging information can sharpen prognosis, support decisions about surgery versus palliation, and prepare the clinical team and pet parent for the likelihood of disseminated malignancy before histopathology is available. This is an inference based on the reported CT findings and the role of cross-sectional imaging in oncologic staging. (deepdyve.com)
Industry and clinical commentary around miniature pig preventive care lines up with that takeaway. A dvm360 review for practitioners says uterine neoplasia is well recognized in older miniature pet pigs and argues for early spaying to prevent hormone-associated uterine lesions. That review cites multiple retrospective studies, including one in which 34 of 298 pot-bellied pigs presented for ovariohysterectomy had reproductive tract lesions, and another zoo suid review that identified endometrial carcinoma among reproductive lesions. While those sources are not direct commentary on this specific case, they reflect a broader clinical view that reproductive disease in aging female pet pigs is underappreciated until it becomes advanced. (dvm360.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this case is a practical reminder to think systemically when older female pet pigs present with seemingly disconnected signs. Blood-tinged vulvar discharge, chronic cough, and weight loss may represent metastatic uterine disease, not separate problems. It also underscores the value of discussing elective sterilization earlier in life with pet parents, especially because published reviews suggest uterine lesions become more common in older miniature pigs and can include malignant disease. For clinicians who have access to advanced imaging, CT may offer a more complete staging picture than radiographs or ultrasound alone when pulmonary metastasis or nodal spread is suspected. (dvm360.com)
What to watch: The next question is whether more reports will clarify when CT meaningfully changes management in pet pig oncology, and whether growing awareness of age-related uterine disease will push earlier spay conversations and more routine reproductive screening in intact females. (dvm360.com)