Pancreatitis, panniculitis, and polyarthritis syndrome in a dog with hyalinizing pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

A 10-y-old spayed female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital because of recurrent chronic abscesses on the distal pelvic limbs, fever, lethargy, lameness of unknown etiology, and chronic pancreatitis. Sterile nodular panniculitis was diagnosed after an extensive workup, and the dog initially responded to immunosuppressive therapy, but relapse and spread of cutaneous lesions and acute lameness occurred after 11 mo, and euthanasia was elected. Postmortem examination confirmed hyalinizing pancreatic adenocarcinoma with pancreatitis, panniculitis, polyarthritis (PPP), and osteomyelitis. Histopathology and bacterial and fungal cultures were supportive of a sterile process, specifically the PPP syndrome, which is a rare, potentially life-threatening, systemic manifestation of pancreatic disease in both people and animals. To our knowledge, a clinicopathologic description of a hyalinizing pancreatic adenocarcinoma associated with this rare syndrome has not been reported previously in a dog.

Mycobacterium genavense granulomatous typhlocolitis in a horse.

A 23-y-old gelding was presented to a veterinary teaching hospital with a history of chronic, refractory diarrhea. Clinically, the horse was in poor body condition, with a thickened and corrugated large intestine identified by transcutaneous abdominal ultrasonography. At postmortem examination following euthanasia, the large colon and cecum had segmental thickening of the intestinal wall with innumerable mucosal ulcers and prominent polypoid mucosal masses. Many mesenteric and hepatic lymph nodes were enlarged. Histology revealed granulomatous and ulcerative typhlocolitis and granulomatous lymphadenitis with myriad acid-fast, variably gram-positive, intrahistiocytic bacilli that stained by immunohistochemistry for mycobacteria. Molecular testing by PCR and sequencing identified the causative agent as Mycobacterium genavense, which is an unusual presentation of infection in a horse.

Intrahepatic mucinous cholangiocarcinoma with recurrent colic in a horse case report and literature review of cholangiocarcinoma in horses.

A 17-y-old Arabian mare was presented to the Auburn Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a long-term history of intermittent mild recurrent colic that responded to medical treatment. CBC revealed mild lymphopenia; serum biochemistry findings were of increased gamma-glutamyl transferase and creatine kinase activities, hyperferremia, hyperglycemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypokalemia. Abdominocentesis was compatible with low-protein transudate. Due to the progression and duration of clinical signs, the owner elected euthanasia. Postmortem examination and histopathology confirmed a cholangiocarcinoma. The neoplastic cells were arranged in large cysts containing lakes of mucin that comprised 90% of the tumor volume; thus, a mucinous variant was determined. The neoplastic cells had strong cytoplasmic immunolabeling for cytokeratin 19 and lacked immunolabeling for hepatocyte paraffin 1, supporting bile duct origin. Cholangiocarcinomas are infrequent tumors in horses with nonspecific and slow progressive clinical signs, including recurrent colic. Mucinous cholangiocarcinomas are seldom reported in veterinary medicine and, to our knowledge, have not been reported previously in horses.

Doxorubicin and zoledronate treatment in a dog with hemophagocytic histiocytic sarcoma.

A 6-year-old castrated male greyhound dog was referred for hemophagocytic histiocytic sarcoma (HHS) diagnosed following splenectomy. Severe thrombocytopenia, mild hypoalbuminemia, mild hypocholesterolemia, and mild hyperbilirubinemia were present. Abdominal ultrasound findings were concerning for hepatic metastasis. Doxorubicin and zoledronate combination therapy was initiated. The dog improved clinically and its thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperbilirubinemia resolved. The dog appeared well for 147 d before tumor progression was noted. The dog was treated with lomustine as a final measure, with no response. The dog survived for 6 mo with chemotherapy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of clinical benefit of chemotherapy for HHS. Key clinical message: Doxorubicin should be considered for treating canine HHS since this variant of the disease is historically refractory to lomustine. Further research regarding efficacy of doxorubicin and zoledronate should be pursued.

Traitement à la doxorubicine et au zolédronate chez un chien atteint de sarcome histiocytaire hémophagocytaire. Un lévrier mâle castré de 6 ans a été vu pour un sarcome histiocytaire hémophagocytaire (HHS) diagnostiqué à la suite d'une splénectomie. Une thrombopénie sévère, une hypoalbuminémie légère, une hypocholestérolémie légère et une hyperbilirubinémie légère étaient présentes. Les résultats de l'échographie abdominale étaient préoccupants quant aux métastases hépatiques. Un traitement associant doxorubicine et zolédronate a été instauré. Le chien s'est amélioré cliniquement et sa thrombocytopénie, son hypoalbuminémie et son hyperbilirubinémie ont disparu. Le chien semblait en bonne santé pendant 147 jours avant de constater une progression tumorale. Le chien a été traité avec de la lomustine comme mesure finale, sans réponse. Le chien a survécu 6 mois grâce à la chimiothérapie. À la connaissance des auteurs, il s'agit du premier rapport faisant état d'un bénéfice clinique de la chimiothérapie pour le HHS.Message clinique clé :La doxorubicine doit être envisagée pour traiter le HHS canin puisque cette variante de la maladie est historiquement réfractaire à la lomustine. Des recherches plus approfondies concernant l'efficacité de la doxorubicine et du zolédronate devraient être poursuivies.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Pathology in Practice.

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

Partial parotid sialoadenectomy in a horse with parotid ductal carcinoma: Surgical description and case report.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the surgical findings, histopathological features, and long-term outcome for a horse with parotid salivary carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Case report ANIMALS: Twelve year old American Quarter Horse gelding. METHODS: The gelding was presented for a 10 × 10 cm swelling below the base of the right ear. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a mass involving the right parotid salivary gland. Incisional biopsy was consistent with parotid carcinoma. The tumor was marginally excised. The lateral wall of the guttural pouch was excised with the mass and was reconstructed with a porcine small intestinal submucosal (SIS) sheet. Cisplatin beads were implanted in the wound bed prior to closure. Firocoxib (0.1 mg/kg orally, daily, every 24 h) treatment was initiated. RESULTS: Postoperative complications included right-sided facial nerve paralysis, difficulty with deglutition of fibrous feeds, and surgical site dehiscence. Wound healing was achieved by second intention. Partial improvement in nerve function was observed within the first 6 months. At 12 months postparotidectomy, no sign of tumor reoccurrence or metastatic disease was present, and the gelding returned to work. CONCLUSION: Partial parotid sialoadenectomy was performed with a favorable long-term outcome. Regional anatomic knowledge is crucial.

Cancer of unknown primary in a mare: case report and comparative pathology review.

A 25-y-old Percheron mare was admitted to the teaching hospital because of lethargy and intractable dyspnea. Thoracoabdominal ultrasound examination identified severe peritoneal effusion, mild bilateral pleural effusion, and a diffuse pulmonary nodular pattern. Cytology of peritoneal fluid revealed a hypercellular sample with clusters of neoplastic polygonal cells and admixed macrophages. Euthanasia was followed by postmortem examination; marked bi-cavitary effusion was present, and innumerable up to 4-cm diameter, round-to-floriform nodules were diffusely evident throughout serosal surfaces as well as the pulmonary and hepatic parenchyma. Disseminated adenocarcinoma, predominantly affecting lung and liver with widespread serosal implantation, was confirmed on light microscopy. Neoplastic cells had strong immunolabeling for pancytokeratin and lacked immunoreactivity to vimentin, napsin A, and Pax8. Cytokeratin 7 and thyroid transcription factor-1 were non-contributory given absent and inconsistent internal control reactivity, respectively. Such results, combined with the lack of a major mass that would indicate a primary site, were supportive of carcinoma of unknown primary site, which remains a conundrum in human oncology, and is poorly explored in veterinary medicine, mainly as a result of clinical and diagnostic limitations.