Computed tomography features of presumed normal mandibular and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes in dogs.

Computed tomographic (CT) features of lymph nodes are used for diagnosis, staging, and response evaluation in veterinary patients. The objectives of this study were to describe maximum short- and long-axis transverse diameters (SATD and LATD, respectively), volume, and attenuation of presumed normal canine mandibular lymph nodes (MLNs) and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (MRLNs), to investigate the effect of variables on these features, and to describe inter-observer reliability of transverse diameter and attenuation measurement. Computed tomography studies of 161 dogs were retrospectively reviewed. Median values for SATD were 5.2 and 5.4 mm, median values for volume were 0.26 and 0.54 cm3, and median values for attenuation were 32.3 and 31.8 Hounsfield units (HU) for MLN and MRLN, respectively. Median LATD was 11 mm for MLNs. Height of the first cervical vertebra (HCV1) and weight were positively associated with transverse diameters of both MLNs and MRLNs (P < 0.001). Grade of dental disease was negatively associated with transverse diameters of both MLNs (P = 0.001) and MRLNs (P < 0.03). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94 to 0.95] for transverse diameter measurement. This study provides descriptive data on the CT characteristics of presumed normal MLNs and MRLNs in dogs and describes a highly reliable method of measuring transverse diameter.

Les caractéristiques tomodensitométriques (CT) des ganglions lymphatiques sont utilisées pour le diagnostic, la stadification et l'évaluation de la réponse chez les patients vétérinaires. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de décrire les diamètres transversaux maximaux à axe court et long (SATD et LATD, respectivement), le volume et l'atténuation des ganglions lymphatiques mandibulaires canins (MLN) et des ganglions lymphatiques rétropharyngés médians (MRLN) présumés normaux, afin d'étudier l'effet de variables sur ces caractéristiques, et pour décrire la fiabilité inter-observateur de la mesure du diamètre transversal et de l'atténuation. Des études de tomodensitométrie de 161 chiens ont été examinées rétrospectivement. Les valeurs médianes pour la SATD étaient de 5,2 et 5,4 mm, les valeurs médianes pour le volume étaient de 0,26 et 0,54 cm3, et les valeurs médianes pour l'atténuation étaient de 32,3 et 31,8 unités Hounsfield (HU) pour MLN et MRLN, respectivement. Le LATD médian était de 11 mm pour les MLN. La hauteur de la première vertèbre cervicale (VHC1) et le poids étaient positivement associés aux diamètres transversaux des MLN et des MRLN (P < 0,001). Le grade de maladie dentaire était négativement associé aux diamètres transversaux des MLN (P = 0,001) et des MRLN (P < 0,03). Le coefficient de corrélation intraclasse (ICC) était de 0,94 [intervalle de confiance (IC) à 95 % : 0,94 à 0,95] pour la mesure du diamètre transversal. Cette étude fournit des données descriptives sur les caractéristiques CT des MLN et MRLN présumés normaux chez le chien et décrit une méthode très fiable de mesure du diamètre transversal.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

Retrospective evaluation of clinical outcome after chemotherapy for lymphoma in 15 equids (1991-2017).

BACKGROUND: Prognosis associated with lymphoma in horses is poorly characterized, and treatment is often palliative. Long-term outcome after chemotherapy for horses with lymphoma is not well documented. OBJECTIVE: To report long-term outcome of horses with lymphoma treated with chemotherapy. ANIMALS: Fifteen equids. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Medical record search and call for cases on the ACVIM listserv for horses treated with chemotherapy for lymphoma. RESULTS: Fifteen cases with adequate data were identified. Complete remission was achieved in 5 horses (33.3%), partial response was achieved in 9 equids (60%), and stable disease was achieved in 1 horse. Overall response rate was 93.3% (14/15). Overall median survival time was 8 months (range, 1-46 months). Nine horses experienced a total of 14 adverse effects attributable to chemotherapy. Adverse effects were graded according to the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group common terminology criteria for adverse events grading system (grade 1 alopecia, n = 2; grade 1 neutropenia, n = 2; grade 1 lymphopenia, n = 3; grade 1 lethargy, n = 1; grade 2 neurotoxicity, n = 1; grade 2 colic, n = 1; grade 1 hypersensitivity, n = 1; grade 2 hypersensitivity, n = 2; grade 5 hypersensitivity, n = 1). Higher grade adverse effects most commonly were associated with doxorubicin administration (n = 4), including 1 horse that died 18 hours post-administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Chemotherapy can be used successfully for treatment of horses with lymphoma. Adverse effects, most commonly mild, occurred in approximately two-thirds of treated horses.

Use of lomustine (CCNU) in a case of cutaneous equine lymphoma.

A 12-year-old gelding was diagnosed with recurrent lymphoma in multiple cutaneous sites. A highly invasive preputial mass caused urethral obstruction. The horse was treated with surgery and chemotherapy consisting of lomustine (CCNU) and prednisolone. The treatment was well-tolerated and effective. This is the first reported use of lomustine (CCNU) in a horse for the treatment of equine lymphoma.

Utilisation de lomustine (CCNU) dans un cas de lymphone cutané équin. Un hongre âgé de 12 ans a été diagnostiqué avec un lymphome récurrent sur plusieurs sites cutanés. Une masse préputiale hautement invasive causait une obstruction urétrale. Le cheval a été traité par chirurgie et chimiothérapie composée de lomustine (CCNU) et de prednisolone. Le traitement a été efficace et bien toléré. Il s'agit de la première utilisation signalée de la lomustine (CCNU) chez un cheval pour le traitement d'un lymphome équin.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Clonality and phenotyping of canine lymphomas before chemotherapy and during remission using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on lymph node cytologic smears and peripheral blood.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes were utilized to determine phenotype and clonality from lymph node cytologic smears and peripheral blood lymphocytes from 10 dogs with lymphoma, before chemotherapy and during remission. Results were compared with those from 13 dogs with a cytologic diagnosis of lymph node hyperplasia. Clonality was identified in 7 of the lymphomas on the basis of either lymph node cytology or peripheral blood lymphocytes before treatment. No lymph node hyperplasia samples were clonal. In 6 of the dogs with lymphoma, clonality was demonstrated during clinical remission. Detection of PCR clonality during clinical remission is an effective means of identifying minimal residual disease in canine lymphoma and thus additional work is warranted to determine if molecular remission is prognostic or predictive for outcome in well-controlled and well-defined lymphoma subtypes.

Immunoglobulin A multiple myeloma with cutaneous involvement in a dog.

An 8-year-old rottweiler, diagnosed with multiple myeloma and multiple sites of cutaneous involvement, was treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The diagnostic criteria for canine multiple myeloma, limitations of diagnostic testing for light chain proteinuria in dogs, and the role of radiation therapy in multiple myeloma patients is discussed.

Does L-asparaginase influence efficacy or toxicity when added to a standard CHOP protocol for dogs with lymphoma?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate response rates, 1st remission duration (FRD), and toxicity in dogs with previously untreated lymphoma receiving an identical CHOP-based combination chemotherapy protocol with or without L-asparaginase (LASP). One hundred fifteen dogs with lymphoma were scheduled to receive an identical CHOP-based chemotherapy protocol that included L-ASP. However, because of manufacturer-imposed random rationing, 31 dogs did not receive L-ASP as scheduled. The 2 treatment groups were statistically similar with respect to signalment and presence of historical negative prognostic factors. No difference was observed in the median FRD whether dogs did or did not receive L-ASP (206 versus 217 days, respectively; P = .67). No difference was observed in the median overall survival times between dogs receiving or not receiving L-ASP (310 versus 308 days, respectively; P = .84). No statistical difference was observed with respect to overall response rate between dogs that did or did not receive L-ASP (89.3% versus 87.1%, respectively; P = .75). Complete response rates between the groups also were no different (83.3% and 77.4% for L-ASP and non-L-ASP groups, respectively; P = .59). Prevalence of toxicity (neutropenia, diarrhea, or vomiting) and treatment delays (P = .80) also were similar between groups. The results of this study suggest that exclusion of L-ASP in this multidrug protocol does not significantly impact outcome. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to reserve the use of L-ASP for treating relapse in dogs with lymphoma that have failed induction therapy.