It is a
cancer of histiocytes, cells responsible for immune functions, which are present in the lymph nodes and in
numerous organs, including the spleen, liver and lungs.
There can be
numerous possible causes pertaining to virtually any body
organ system, but some of the more common are neoplasia (
cancer), GI parasitism, liver or kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, food intolerance, diabetes, hypoadrenocorticism, chronic pancreatitis, bacterial or viral infection, partial obstruction of the intestines (either from a
cancer, intussusception or foreign body eg.