Epididymal Primary Mast Cell Tumor in a Dog

Background: In the literature, there are a few descriptions of epididymis neoplasia in domestic animals, especially considering primary tumors. In the few reports found in literature, the lesions were a consequence of the invasion of testicular or paratesticular neoplasia, as a papillar carcinoma in a dog’s and a bull’s epididymis, and mesenchymal tumors - fibrome/fibrosarcoma, leiomyoma/leiosarcome. On the other hand, mast cell tumors are the second most prevalent neoplasia in dogs in Brazil, affecting especially the skin. The aim of this report is to describe for the first time a low malignancy mast cell tumor in a mixed-breed dog’s epididymis, without metastasis or recurrence in a 2-year follow-up period. Case: A 10-year-old male mixed-breed dog was presented for pre-surgical evaluation for elective orchiectomy. In the physical examination, an increase in the volume of approximately two centimeters with an irregular appearance was identified on palpation in the cranial pole of the left testis. In the trans surgical period, an increase in testicular volume (4 cm long x 2 cm wide) was observed, with a firm consistency in the region of the vas deferens with macroscopic changes in the region. The testis was sectioned, and the fragments were sent for histopathological evaluation in 10% buffered formaldehyde. There was a fairly cellular circumscribed neoplastic infiltrate, distributed in a sheet and separated by fibrovascular stroma, and rounded neoplastic cells with a moderate amount of basophilic cytoplasmic granulation, and discrete anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. The nuclei were rounded with vesicular chromatin with one or two distinct nucleoli. No mitosis figures were observed in 10 high power fields (400x). Few eosinophils were distributed throughout the neoplastic cell population. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated immunostaining for KIT protein with perimembranous staining in 95% of neoplastic mast cells, giving a KIT 1 pattern. There was no positive nuclear staining for Ki67 in any cell of the histological sections examined. A grade II mast cell tumor (low grade of malignancy) was diagnosed. After diagnosis, the animal underwent radiographic evaluation of the chest and abdominal ultrasound, and a new physical inspection in search of nodules, plaques, skin lesions, or subcutaneous masses. There were no metastases in the thorax and abdominal cavity, nor physical alterations, and it can be inferred that the epididymis was the primary site of the mast cell tumor. After 2 years of orchiectomy, there were no recurrences, and no chemotherapy treatment was performed. Discussion: Extracutaneous mast cell tumors are uncommon in animals, but have been reported in oral and nasal mucosa, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, intestine, visceral lymph nodes, spleen, liver, spinal cord, intestine, ureter, conjunctiva, lung and more recently in tear gland of the third eyelid. However, in the authors' assessment, this is the first description of mast cell tumor in the epididymis in dogs. The diagnosis was established by histopathological examination, which revealed a grade II epididymal mast cell tumor and immunohistochemical evaluation (KIT and Ki-67) as being of low aggressiveness. The diagnosis of a primary tumor was confirmed since the staging was established after the histopathological diagnosis, involving chest radiography, abdominal ultrasound, cutaneous evaluation in search of nodules, plaques, cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions, and did not reveal other abnormalities or metastases not identified in the preoperative evaluation. In addition, immunostaining with KIT and Ki-67 reaffirmed the low degree of malignancy and the potential for metastases, which can be observed by the asymptomatic follow-up of the patient 2 years after the surgical excision. Keywords: tumoral, neoplasm, carcinoma, metastases, histopathology, immunohistochemistry.Introdução: Na literatura existem poucas descrições de neoplasias do epidídimo em animais domésticos, principalmente considerando os tumores primários. Nos poucos relatos encontrados na literatura, as lesões foram decorrentes da invasão de neoplasia testicular ou paratesticular, como carcinoma papilar em epidídimo de um cão e de um touro e tumores mesenquimais - fibroma/fibrossarcoma, leiomioma/leiossarcoma. Em contrapartida, os mastocitomas são a segunda neoplasia mais prevalente em cães no Brasil, acometendo principalmente a pele. O objetivo desse relato é descrever pela primeira vez um mastocitoma de baixa malignidade no epidídimo de um cão sem raça definida, sem metástase ou recidiva em um período de acompanhamento de 2 anos. Caso: Um cão sem raça definida, macho, de 10 anos de idade, foi encaminhado para avaliação pré-cirúrgica para orquiectomia eletiva. Ao exame físico foi identificado aumento de volume de aproximadamente dois centímetros com aspecto irregular à palpação no pólo cranial do testículo esquerdo. No período transcirúrgico, observou-se aumento do volume testicular (4 cm de comprimento x 2 cm de largura), com consistência firme na região do vaso deferente com alterações macroscópicas na região. O testículo foi seccionado e os fragmentos encaminhados para avaliação histopatológica em formaldeído tamponado a 10%. Havia infiltrado neoplásico altamente celular circunscrito, distribuído em leçol e separado por estroma fibrovascular, e células neoplásicas arredondadas com moderada quantidade de granulação citoplasmática basofílica, e discreta anisocitose e anisocariose. Os núcleos eram arredondados com cromatina vesicular com um ou dois nucléolos distintos. Não foram observadas figuras de mitose em dez campos de alta amplificação (400x). Poucos eosinófilos foram distribuídos por toda a população de células neoplásicas. A imunohistoquímica mostrou imunocoloração para proteína KIT com coloração perimembranosa em 95% dos mastócitos neoplásicos, fornecendo um padrão KIT 1. Não houve coloração nuclear positiva para Ki67 em nenhuma célula dos cortes histológicos examinados. Foi diagnosticado um mastocitoma grau II (baixo grau de malignidade). Após o diagnóstico, o animal foi submetido a avaliação radiográfica de ultrassonografia de tórax e abdome, e nova inspeção física em busca de nódulos, placas, lesões de pele ou massas subcutâneas. Não houve metástases em tórax e cavidade abdominal, nem alterações físicas, podendo-se inferir que o epidídimo foi o sítio primário do mastocitoma. Após dois anos de orquiectomia, não houve recidiva e nenhum tratamento quimioterápico foi realizado. Discussão: Os mastocitomas extracutâneos são incomuns em animais, mas têm sido relatados em mucosa oral e nasal, nasofaringe, laringe, traqueia, intestino, linfonodos viscerais, baço, fígado, medula espinhal, intestino, ureter, conjuntiva, pulmão e mais recentemente na glândula lacrimal da terceira pálpebra. No entanto, na avaliação dos autores, essa é a primeira descrição de mastocitoma no epidídimo em cães. O diagnóstico foi estabelecido pelo exame histopatológico, que revelou mastocitoma epididimal grau II e avaliação imunohistoquímica (KIT e Ki-67) como sendo de baixa agressividade. O diagnóstico de tumor primário foi confirmado pois o estadiamento foi estabelecido após o diagnóstico histopatológico, envolvendo radiografia de tórax, ultrassonografia abdominal, avaliação cutânea em busca de nódulos, placas, lesões cutâneas e subcutâneas, e não revelou outras anormalidades ou metástases não identificadas em a avaliação pré-operatória. Além disso, a imunocoloração com KIT e Ki-67 reafirmou o baixo grau de malignidade e o potencial de metástases, o que pode ser observado pelo acompanhamento assintomático do paciente dois anos após a excisão cirúrgica

LEAD POISONING IN DOG – CASE REPORT

The present study reports the occurrence of lead poisoning in a male, 2 year-old mongrel dog attended at UNESP Botucatu Veterinary Hospital. The animal was brought to the hospital with claim of gastrointestinal and nervous disturbs for 10 days, worsening in the last 24 hours. After unsuccessfully attempts to control status epileticus, the animal died. Hematological evaluation revealed significant rubricytosis and basophilic stippling, highly suggestive of lead poisoning. Serum lead concentration confirmed toxic levels of this element. Necropsy evidenced the presence of foreign bodies in stomach (one stone and two metallic objects) and, microscopically, characteristic inclusions in renal parenchyma. Fragments obtained from liver and kidneys revealed lead concentrations of 0, 8 μg/g and 25 μg/g, respectively, which in association to clinical signs of saturnism, determined the diagnosis of lead poisoning

Immunopathological findings in a cat with auricular chondritis

At clinical examination, a 5-year-old male domestic short-haired cat exhibited painful swelling and erythema of the pinnae of both ears. Microscopically, the lesions on both pinnae were composed of diffuse granulomatous chondritis with degeneration and necrosis of the pinnal cartilage. Numerous mast cells were also observed within and surrounding the inflammatory lesion. Immunohistochemistry showed a mixed inflammatory infiltrate characterised by the predominance of macrophages (CD68+, MAC 387+ and Lysozyme+), T lymphocytes (CD3+), some B lymphocytes (CD79α+) and neutrophils. Immunopathological characterisation of the lesion showed a granulomatous inflammation profile and suggests that the morphological changes and immunopathogenesis of auricular chondritis in cats presents a similarity with relapsing polychondritis in humans

Equine motor neuron disease: report on the first cases in South America

Foram realizados estudos dos casos de 6 eqüinos de raças e idades diferentes, apresentando um quadro clínico caracterizado principalmente por emagrecimento progressivo, atrofia e fraqueza muscular generalizada, fasciculações e tremores musculares, alternância constante de apoio dos membros posteriores, deslocamento do apoio dos membros anteriores caudalmente e dos membros posteriores cranialmente, decúbito lateral prolongado e morte. A confirmação do diagnóstico ocorreu mediante exames histopatológicos da medula espinhal, observando-se uma degeneração e perda dos neurônios localizados no corno ventral do H medular, sendo a lesão mais grave na região das intumescências cervical e lombar. As biópsias musculares revelaram alterações neuromusculares caracterizadas por atrofia neurogênica, complementando o diagnóstico de doença do neurônio motor. A atrofia e fraqueza muscular progressiva, assim como a degeneração dos neurônios motores, são similares àquelas descritas em humanos com esclerose lateral amiotrófica esporádica ou doença de Lou Gehrig’s.The present paper aims to report cases of equine motor neuron disease in different breeds and ages. The main clinical signs were progressive weight loss, muscle atrophy, generalized weakness, muscle fasciculation and trembling, frequent shifting of support hindlimbs, feet under body, excessive recumbency and death. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological studies of the spinal cord, which revealed degeneration and loss of neurons in the ventral horn, particularly cervical and lumbar intumescence. Muscle biopsy revealed neuromuscular disorders with denervation atrophy. The progressive muscle atrophy, weakness and motor neuron degeneration are similar to those in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, as described in human beings

Paraneoplastic Hypercalcemia Secondary to Canine Mammary Tumors

Background: Paraneoplastic syndromes are complexes symptom that occur at a distinct site from the primary tumor or its metastasis by the production of hormone by the tissue in which the tumor appears. Paraneoplastic hypercalcemia is associated with an abnormal elevation of serum calcium levels and the mainly tumor related to this syndrome in canine is lymphoma, anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma and multiple myeloma. In mammary tumors, the most frequent tumor that affect female dogs, this syndrome was also observed. The aims of this study were to evaluate serum calcium levels in female dogs with malignant mammary tumors and correlate calcium levels with clinicopathological parameters.Materials, Methods & Results: It was evaluated fifty-one female dogs with mammary carcinomas (simple carcinomas and carcinoma in mixed tumors) for serum calcium levels using colorimetric test. Clinical-histopathological data as spray status, pseudopregnancy, tumor size, ulceration, clinical staging, histopathological type and tumor grade were also evaluated in association with serum calcium levels. All dogs were treated with unilateral mastectomy. It was observed that 18 animals (35%) had calcium serum levels increased (>11.5 mg/dL) and 56% (10/18 cases) of these animals had serum calcium levels higher than 12 mg/dL. All dogs with hypercalcemia were asymptomatic, including two female dogs that presented the highest levels (13.43 mg/dL and 14.28 mg/dL). Hypercalcemia of malignancy was related to mammary carcinomas after the exclusion of other causes of hypercalcemia through laboratory tests (complete blood count and serum biochemistry) and abdominal ultrasound. No correlation was verified between the corrected serum calcium values with clinical and histopathological parameters evaluated.Discussion: In this study, it was observed a high incidence of paraneoplastic hypercalcemia associated with canine mammary tumors (35%). In humans, this syndrome is related in up to 10% of all patients with advanced cancer and with worse prognosis. The most frequent clinical signs of hypercalcemia are nonspecific and can be confused with other diseases, such as polyuria, polydipsia, anorexia, constipation, lethargy and weakness. The treatment of this syndrome is based on tumor resection and when necessary other treatments can be performed with fluid containing 0.9% sodium chloride, furosemide, prednisolone and calcitonin. Patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic hypercalcemia (calcium levels <12 mg/ dL) do not require immediate treatment. Clinical signs occur more frequently with serum calcium levels higher than 15 mg/dL. Calcium levels higher than 18 mg/dL are considered a medical emergency and the clinical signs observed are trigger seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, acute renal failure and death. Most animals of this study presented mild hypercalcemia, that could justify the absence of clinical signs related to this syndrome, and the treatment for this syndrome was the tumor removal. The high serum calcium levels did not show correlation with more aggressive tumors and poorer prognosis, conditions evaluated by histological type, tumor grade and clinical stage. The evaluation of serum calcium levels is an important clinical test to be done in female dogs with mammary tumors, besides to be an affordable and technically simple test. The clinical signs related to this syndrome are nonspecific and may be confused with other diseases commonly observed in older dogs. The data suggest that there are no correlation between serum calcium levels with aggressiveness of canine mammary tumors and with other clinical features

Vet-ICD-O-Canine-1, a System for Coding Canine Neoplasms Based on the Human ICD-O-3.2

Cancer registries are fundamental tools for collecting epidemiological cancer data and developing cancer prevention and control strategies. While cancer registration is common in the human medical field, many attempts to develop animal cancer registries have been launched over time, but most have been discontinued. A pivotal aspect of cancer registration is the availability of cancer coding systems, as provided by the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O). Within the Global Initiative for Veterinary Cancer Surveillance (GIVCS), established to foster and coordinate animal cancer registration worldwide, a group of veterinary pathologists and epidemiologists developed a comparative coding system for canine neoplasms. Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 is compatible with the human ICD-O-3.2 and is consistent with the currently recognized classification schemes for canine tumors. It comprises 335 topography codes and 534 morphology codes. The same code as in ICD-O-3.2 was used for the majority of canine tumors showing a high level of similarity to their human counterparts (n = 408). De novo codes (n = 152) were created for specific canine tumor entities (n = 126) and topographic sites (n = 26). The Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 coding system represents a user-friendly, easily accessible, and comprehensive resource for developing a canine cancer registration system that will enable studies within the One Health space

Vet-ICD-O-Canine-1, a System for Coding Canine Neoplasms Based on the Human ICD-O-3.2.

Cancer registries are fundamental tools for collecting epidemiological cancer data and developing cancer prevention and control strategies. While cancer registration is common in the human medical field, many attempts to develop animal cancer registries have been launched over time, but most have been discontinued. A pivotal aspect of cancer registration is the availability of cancer coding systems, as provided by the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O). Within the Global Initiative for Veterinary Cancer Surveillance (GIVCS), established to foster and coordinate animal cancer registration worldwide, a group of veterinary pathologists and epidemiologists developed a comparative coding system for canine neoplasms. Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 is compatible with the human ICD-O-3.2 and is consistent with the currently recognized classification schemes for canine tumors. It comprises 335 topography codes and 534 morphology codes. The same code as in ICD-O-3.2 was used for the majority of canine tumors showing a high level of similarity to their human counterparts (n = 408). De novo codes (n = 152) were created for specific canine tumor entities (n = 126) and topographic sites (n = 26). The Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 coding system represents a user-friendly, easily accessible, and comprehensive resource for developing a canine cancer registration system that will enable studies within the One Health space

Avaliação histológica e morfométrica do retalho axial oris angularis e da terapia por ondas de choque aplicados a defeito palpebral experimental em cães

Os retalhos de padrão axial têm como característica significativa vascularização intrínseca, considerada uma vantagem sobre outras técnicas. Considerando que complicações isquêmicas podem afetar os retalhos cutâneos, técnicas de salvamento são descritas, dentre estas, a terapia por ondas de choque extracorpóreas (TOCE), descrita como capaz de modular a vascularização e cicatrização dos retalhos. O presente estudo avaliou histológica e morfometricamente 21 amostras de pele; destas, 14 foram submetidas à confecção do retalho axial, sendo sete tratadas também pela TOCE, obtidas da região distal do retalho axial oris angularis, utilizado para a reconstrução de defeitos palpebrais experimentais extensos em cães. Foram avaliadas também sete amostras de pele normal da mesma região acima descrita (grupo controle). Não foram evidenciadas diferenças histológicas significativas no infiltrado inflamatório e atrofia epidérmica microscopicamente. Na análise morfométrica, o número de vasos, a área vascular total e a área média foram semelhantes entre os grupos experimentais. O retalho oris angularis associado ou não à TOCE não apresentou características microscópicas de complicações inflamatórias e atróficas significativas. Sinais de integridade tecidual e vascularização sanguínea adequados foram observados em ambos os grupos tratados, demonstrando efetividade do retalho oris angularis. A aplicação da TOCE no retalho oris angularis, em dose única de 2500 impulsos a 0,15 mJ/mm² no pós-operatório imediato, não promoveu efeitos colaterais deletérios.Considering that the cutaneous flap can be affected by isquemic complications the extra corporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) was described as rescue techniques. The present study was developed to analyze histological and with morfometry, twenty one skin samples treated or not with the shock wave therapy, obtained from flap's distal border, used in this study to repair eyelids' experimental defects in dogs. The flap with or without ESWT did not show any histological sign of inflammatory or atrophic alterations. Both group treated showed similar morphometrical characteristics. The ESWT with the protocol used in this study (2500 impulses at 0,15 mJ/mm²) did not demonstrate significant clinical outcomes as a rescue technique when applied over the oris angularis flap, however results showed no signals of collateral deleterious effects