Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Cats

Background: Esophageal neoplasms are rarely reported in cats. The frequency rate is less than 0.5% and those neoplasms are usually malignant. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an idiopathic epithelial neoplasm, invasive and metastatic that can induce partial or complete obstruction of the esophageal lumen. There is no breed or sex predisposition, and it is more common in cats over 8-years-old. Esophageal SCC is more frequent in the middle third of the esophagus. The prognosis is poor, as the cats are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. This report aims to describe clinical, endoscopic, radiographic, and pathological features of two cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in cats.Cases: A 11-year-old neutered male cat presenting regurgitation, weight loss, anorexia and dyspnea was referred to veterinary internal medicine care. Simple and contrast-enhanced radiographic images of the cervical and thoracic regions showed an alveolar pattern in the cranial lung lobes and signs of esophageal lumen irregularity and dilatation in the mediastinum topography. The upper digestive endoscopy showed a dilated esophageal lumen, and an irregular mass was observed in the thoracic esophagus involving the entire esophageal circumference. Biopsy fragments were collected, and the histopathological result was compatible with squamous cell carcinoma. The second case was a 10-year-old neutered male cat presenting hyporexia, regurgitation, dyspnea, tachypnea, and abnormal breath sounds. The ultrasound of the chest showed 3 amorphous hypoechogenic and heterogeneous areas in the right and left hemithorax between parietal and visceral pleura. The cytological examination was compatible with a malignant epithelial tumor. The patient died 3 months after the onset of clinical signs. At gross exam, it was observed a friable, irregular, and ulcerated mass of 5.0 x 3.0 cm in the middle third of the esophagus. Metastatic foci in the lungs and liver were also observed. The histopathological diagnosis was esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, with metastases to liver and lungs. Microscopically, in both cases, were seen aproliferation of polyhedral epithelial cells in the mucosa, arranged in nests or trabeculae with central keratinization. These cells presented oval to rounded nuclei, loose chromatin, prominent nucleolus, and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, with marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis, supported by a thin fibrovascular stroma. In the second cat the neoplastic cells infiltrated the esophageal submucosa, including lymphatic vessels and muscle layer. Lung and liver metastases from theSCC had a cellular pattern similar to the primary neoplasm.Discussion: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is extremely rare in cats. The SCC begins in the squamous layer of the mucosa and can infiltrate the muscular layer or protrude into the esophageal lumen, leading to clinical signs, as seen in these 2 cats. The differential diagnoses for esophageal SCC include foreign bodies, esophageal strictures, and infiltrative or compressive non-esophageal tumors. Although uncommon, esophageal tumors should be considered when evaluatingelderly cats with regurgitation and weight loss. The diagnosis of esophageal SCC was confirmed by histopathological findings collected endoscopically or during necropsy. As noted in both cases, the prognosis of SCC is generally unfavorable, usually due to the difficulty in treatment and diagnosis in a late stage of the disease.Keywords: feline, esophagus, neoplasms, metastasis, cancer

Hepatopatia crônica associada a tratamento prolongado com fenobarbital em caninos

Chronic liver diseases are common in dogs, however, their causes are often undetermined. They have been associated with long-term phenobarbital therapy, used in large-scale as anticonvulsivant drug in small animal clinics. In the investigation of etiology for liver disease in dogs it’s important to check the prolonged use of phenobarbital. A retrospective study of canine necropsies performed at Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, was made from 2000 to 2010, and two cases of chronic diffuse hepatopathy in dogs under phenobarbital therapy (more than six months of treatment) were diagnosed. The main macroscopic findings, such as smaller, firmer and irregular surface of liver, ascites and other sites edema, and portosystemic shunts were observed. Histologically, the most important lesions were observed in the liver. There were diffuse fibrosis, bile ducts proliferation, mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, cholestasis, and, in one case also occurred regenerating nodules of hepatocytes with vacuolization of hepatocytes cytoplasm. The diagnosis of chronic hepatopathy was based on these findings, and the intensity of the injuries was consistent with the time of treatment using phenobarbital.Doenças hepáticas crônicas são frequentes em caninos e, muitas vezes, não tem causa determinada. Têm sido relacionadas com terapia prolongada com fenobarbital, fármaco usado com frequência na rotina da clínica de pequenos animais, sendo importante a verificação do uso prolongado de fenobarbital na investigação da causa da hepatopatia. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo dos arquivos de necropsias do Setor de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul no período de 2000 a 2010 e identificados dois casos de hepatopatia crônica em caninos com histórico de uso de fenobarbital por período superior a seis meses. Os achados mais relevantes nos exames de necropsia foram fígado reduzido de volume, firme e com superfície irregular; ascite e edema em outras localizações; além de desvios vasculares portossistêmicos. No exame histológico do fígado havia fibrose difusa, proliferação de ductos biliares, infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear, colestase e, em um dos casos, nódulos de regeneração com vacuolização hepatocelular. Os achados macro e microscópicos determinaram o diagnóstico de hepatopatia crônica e a intensidade das lesões foi condizente com o tempo de uso do fenobarbital

Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Cats

Background: Esophageal neoplasms are rarely reported in cats. The frequency rate is less than 0.5% and those neoplasms are usually malignant. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an idiopathic epithelial neoplasm, invasive and metastatic that can induce partial or complete obstruction of the esophageal lumen. There is no breed or sex predisposition, and it is more common in cats over 8-years-old. Esophageal SCC is more frequent in the middle third of the esophagus. The prognosis is poor, as the cats are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. This report aims to describe clinical, endoscopic, radiographic, and pathological features of two cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in cats.Cases: A 11-year-old neutered male cat presenting regurgitation, weight loss, anorexia and dyspnea was referred to veterinary internal medicine care. Simple and contrast-enhanced radiographic images of the cervical and thoracic regions showed an alveolar pattern in the cranial lung lobes and signs of esophageal lumen irregularity and dilatation in the mediastinum topography. The upper digestive endoscopy showed a dilated esophageal lumen, and an irregular mass was observed in the thoracic esophagus involving the entire esophageal circumference. Biopsy fragments were collected, and the histopathological result was compatible with squamous cell carcinoma. The second case was a 10-year-old neutered male cat presenting hyporexia, regurgitation, dyspnea, tachypnea, and abnormal breath sounds. The ultrasound of the chest showed 3 amorphous hypoechogenic and heterogeneous areas in the right and left hemithorax between parietal and visceral pleura. The cytological examination was compatible with a malignant epithelial tumor. The patient died 3 months after the onset of clinical signs. At gross exam, it was observed a friable, irregular, and ulcerated mass of 5.0 x 3.0 cm in the middle third of the esophagus. Metastatic foci in the lungs and liver were also observed. The histopathological diagnosis was esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, with metastases to liver and lungs. Microscopically, in both cases, were seen aproliferation of polyhedral epithelial cells in the mucosa, arranged in nests or trabeculae with central keratinization. These cells presented oval to rounded nuclei, loose chromatin, prominent nucleolus, and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, with marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis, supported by a thin fibrovascular stroma. In the second cat the neoplastic cells infiltrated the esophageal submucosa, including lymphatic vessels and muscle layer. Lung and liver metastases from theSCC had a cellular pattern similar to the primary neoplasm.Discussion: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is extremely rare in cats. The SCC begins in the squamous layer of the mucosa and can infiltrate the muscular layer or protrude into the esophageal lumen, leading to clinical signs, as seen in these 2 cats. The differential diagnoses for esophageal SCC include foreign bodies, esophageal strictures, and infiltrative or compressive non-esophageal tumors. Although uncommon, esophageal tumors should be considered when evaluatingelderly cats with regurgitation and weight loss. The diagnosis of esophageal SCC was confirmed by histopathological findings collected endoscopically or during necropsy. As noted in both cases, the prognosis of SCC is generally unfavorable, usually due to the difficulty in treatment and diagnosis in a late stage of the disease.Keywords: feline, esophagus, neoplasms, metastasis, cancer

Anatomopathological findings in dogs naturally infected by Hepatozoon canis

Canine hepatozoonosis is mainly caused by protozoa Hepatozoon canis and H. americanum that are transmitted by ingestion of infected ticks. Clinical signs may be unspecific or difficult to identify, because usually hepatozoonosis occurs associated with other disease. In Brazil, the parasite and the disease, have been identified in several states, however little is known about the clinical and anatomopathological lesions resulting from the infection. This paper reports five cases of natural infection by Hepatozoon canis in dogs from Minas Gerais State and describes for the first time in Brazil the necropsy and histopathological findings related to infection. Meronts of Hepatozoon sp., submitted to morphometric evaluation, were observed in histological sections of liver, spleen, bone marrow and kidney.A hepatozoonose canina é causada principalmente pelos protozoários Hepatozoon canis e H. americanum, transmitida por ingestão de carrapatos parasitados. Os sinais clínicos podem ser inespecíficos ou de difícil reconhecimento, pois geralmente ocorre associada a outras doenças. No Brasil, o parasito, e a doença, já foram identificados em vários Estados, no entanto pouco se sabe sobre as alterações clínicas e anátomo-patológicas decorrentes da infecção. O presente trabalho relata cinco casos de infecções naturais por Hepatozoon canis em cães do Estado de Minas Gerais e descreve pela primeira vez no Brasil os achados de necropsias e histopatológicos relacionados à infecção. Merontes de Hepatozoon sp., submetidos a avaliação morfométrica, foram observados em cortes histológicos de fígado, baço, medula óssea e rim

Síndrome urológica felina: 13 casos Feline urologic syndrome: 13 cases

Treze casos (8,44%) de síndrome urológica felina foram diagnosticados em 154 necropsias de gatos realizadas de 1991 a 1997. Dados epidemiológicos, sinais clínicos, lesões de necropsia e achados histopatológicos foram revisados. Sete animais eram machos inteiros e seis eram machos castrados. Obstrução uretral, hematúria, disúria e distensão vesical foram os principais sinais clínicos. Os principais achados de necropsia e histopatológicos foram cistite hemorrágica, pielonefrite, edema perirrenal, hidronefrose, necrose tubular e uretrite.<br>Thirteen cases (8.44%) of feline urologic syndrome were diagnosed in 154 necropsies carried out in cats from 1991 to 1997. Epidemiological data, clinical signs, gross, and histopalhological features were reviewed. Seven cats were intact males and six were castrated males. Urethral obstruction, hematuria, dysuria, and urinary bladder distention were the main clinical signs. Main gross and histopathological findings were hemorrhagic cystitis, pyelonephritis, perirenal edema, hydronephrosis, tubular necrosis, urethritis