necropsy_buddy

The cause of death in this case has been determined to be raisin/grape toxicity.  The findings attributed to the toxicity include microscopic changes within proximal convoluted tubular cells of kidney as a result of swelling and damage to the cells from the toxin, as well as containing golden brown pigment in the cytoplasm of the cells.  This pigment could also have been related to hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) but special stains were used to rule this out.

There was free fluid in the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity which is of uncertain significance.  Grossly the pancreas appeared to be inflamed and full of blood, but microscopic examination revealed that this was congestion that occurred post-mortem.  There was also similar congestion of the stomach and small intestine, and in the lungs. The parathyroid glands were both enlarged and hyperplastic, but not likely of clinical significance.  There is endocardiosis of both the mitral and tricuspid valves of the heart, most likely age-related.

There are multiple changes in the skeletal system, including degenerative joint disease, dysplasia and osteoporosis.  There is bilateral flattening and cartilage degradation of the femoral heads of the hip joints consistent with hip dysplasia.  There are moderate osteophytes in the stifles with thinning of the articular cartilage under the patellas (kneecaps.)  There are severe arthritic changes in both elbows consistent with dysplasia.  There is also osteoporosis of the ribs, which may have been secondary to the parathyroid gland hyperplasia.

This patient was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma.  There is no microscopic evidence of lymphoma; rather, there is severe lymphoid depletion and hemosiderosis of the spleen.  The lymphoid depletion is related to the chemotherapy, but the hemosiderosis is likely an age-related change.  Other side-effects of the treatment for lymphoma include what is likely a steroid effect on the liver (steroid hepatopathy) consisting of diffuse degeneration of liver cells.

There were microscopic changes of the neurons in the brain associated with age (lipofuscinosis.)  There were no significant lesions of the eyes, skin or gastrointestinal tract.