[A rare case of juvenile atrophy of the pancreas].

The case of a 4 month old Irish setter bitch is reported in the present paper, which showed a recurrent diarrhoea, polyphagia from the purchase of the dog at the age of two months. The dog was severely emaciated and treatment with Pancreon was not followed by any improvement. The total information acquired from the history of the dog and laboratory studies was clearly indicative of exocrine pancreatic deficiency. In spite of the satisfactory response to treatment with Tryplase (the faeces were restored to normal, but polyphagia and coprophagia continued to be present), it was decided to perform euthanasia. Atrophy of the pancreas and small groups of undifferentiated cells situated in the adipose tissues were observed at autopsy. Pseudoductules, excretory ducts and blood vessels were clearly identifiable. Islands of Langerhans were not detected, only a few scattered B cells being present. The microscopic findings in the Irish setter were obviously similar to the type 1 atrophy as described by Prentice et al. (11). The age (of this dog), at which exocrine atrophy of the pancreas became apparent may be described as exceptionally young.