Micosi fungoide nel cane: indagine retrospettiva

Il linfoma cutaneo epiteliotropo o micosi fungoide nel cane, è un raro linfoma cutaneo a linfociti T, contraddistinto clinicamente da lesioni a carico di cute, giunzioni mucocutanee e cavo orale e istologicamente dall’epiteliotropismo dei linfociti T neoplastici. La diagnosi, basata sull’istopatologia, è solitamente tardiva. Il linfoma cutaneo epiteliotropo canino presenta una marcata somiglianza con l’analoga forma umana, pur presentando peculiarità proprie. In base al quadro clinico e all’istologia sono descritte tre varianti, la micosi fungoide classica, la reticolosi pagetoide e la sindrome di Sézary, nell’uomo così come nel cane. In quest’ultima specie viene applicata più comodamente la classificazione clinica che prevede una forma nodulare cutanea, una forma che colpisce le giunzioni mucocutanee e una a carico del cavo orale. In questo studio retrospettivo sono stati inclusi 17 cani e un gatto affetti da linfoma cutaneo epiteliotropo. L’obiettivo era di rilevare gli aspetti clinici ed istologici di maggior interesse nella diagnosi, operando anche un confronto con la specie umana. Nella nostra casistica, la variante maggiormente rappresentata era la reticolosi pagetoide (12/17 cani e il gatto), seguita dalla micosi fungoide classica (5/17 cani). Non è stato invece possibile svelare la presenza di un’eventuale sindrome di Sézary. I reperti clinici ed istopatologici osservati rispecchiano quanto già affermato in letteratura, e presentano aspetti interessanti da paragonare con l’omologa neoplasia nell’uomo. Epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma, also called mycosis fungoides, has been described in the dog as an uncommon cutaneous lymphoma of T-cell origin, which clinically involves skin, mucocutaneous junctions and oral cavity, and is histologically characterized by the epitheliotropism of neoplastic T-lymphocytes. Diagnosis relies on the histopathological examination but is often belated. Canine epitheliotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma shows considerable similarities with its human counterpart, although it also presents distinctive characteristics. Three variants have been reported in dog as in man, based upon clinical and histological features: classical mycosis fungoides, pagetoid reticulosis, and Sézary syndrome. However, it seems easier to classify the disease in dogs as cutaneous nodular form, mucocutaneous form, and oral form. In this retrospective study we report the cases of 17 dogs and a cat, diagnosed with epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma; the aim is to point out the most interesting clinical and histological findings for diagnosis, also carrying out a comparison with the human species. Within the group of patients examinated, the most represented variant was pagetoid reticulosis (12/17 dogs and the cat), followed by classical mycosis fungoides (5/17 dogs). It was not possibile to confirm the presence of a Sézary syndrome. The clinical and histopathological features that were observed reflected those previously reported in the published literature, and showed interesting findings to be compared with the homologous human neoplasia

Linfoma cutaneo epiteliotropo: aspetti clinico-patologici in 20 cani

Canine epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma, also named mycosis fungoides, has been described as an uncommon cutaneous lymphoma of T-cell origin, which is histologically characterized by the epitheliotropism of neoplastic T-lymphocytes. Two variants have been reported in man, based upon clinical and histopathological features: classical mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome. The disease in dogs is clinically classified as cutaneous nodular form, exfoliative erythroderma, mucocutaneous form, and oral form. Aim of the study - The aim is to point out the most interesting clinical and histopathological findings for the diagnosis, also carrying out a comparison with the human species. Material and methods - We report the cases of 20 dogs, diagnosed with epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma. Medical records of these animals were reviewed for rilevant data on signalment, anamnesis, clinical examination and histopathologic diagnosis. Results - All the clinical variants described by Scott in veterinary medicine were present alone or in combination: exfoliative erythroderma (75% dogs), mucocutaneous form (65% dogs), cutaneous nodular form (55% dogs), and oral form (25% dogs). On the basis of histological features, the most represented variant was pagetoid reticulosis (14/20 dogs, 70%). Sezary syndrome could not be found. Discussion - The clinical and histopathological features that were observed reflected those previously reported in the published literature, and showed interesting findings to be compared with the homologous human neoplasia