A series of six cases of sphincter of Oddi pathology in the cat (2008-2009)

The sphincter of Oddi (SO) is located within the wall of the duodenum as the terminal part of the common bile duct. Six cats are reported with obstructive processes within their SO. Three of them may have had some form of sphincter dysfunction associated with the pre-existing complex known as 'inflammatory bowel disease' (IBD), two may have had the equivalent of the infant human condition known as 'bile plug syndrome' and the sixth had sphincter dysfunction associated with a tumour at the confluence of the common and right hepatic duct. In all six cases, the sphincter obstructions were surgically managed. The outcomes for 4/6 were favourable but 1/6 was euthanased intraoperatively, and 1/6 had a metastatic neoplasia and was euthanased 2 months postoperatively.