Metastatic peripheral neuroblastoma in a dog

ABSTRACT

Background: Peripheral neuroblast neoplasms are considered as a group of tumors derived from primitive cells of the neuralcrest that are progenitors of the sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. Reports of neuroblastoma in dogs are scarcein English literature, and there are no reports from Brazil due to its rare occurrence or missed diagnosis, because moderntechniques are often not accessible in Brazil. The aim of the present study was reported a case of metastatic peripheralneuroblastoma in a 10-month-old bitch of Canadian Shepherd breed.Case A 10-month-old female dog, Canadian Shepherd breed, presenting prostration, inappetence, emesis, progressiveweight loss, and difficulties in the locomotion of the pelvic limbs was brought to the Small Animal Veterinary Hospital ofthe Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (HVPA / UFRRJ) for treatment. Palpation of the abdominal cavity revealeda mass of approximately 14.0-cm diameter in the thoracolumbar region. After the second visit to HVPA/ UFRRJ, therewas worsening of the clinical condition and onset of pain and dyspnea; hence, euthanasia was performed. The dog wasreferred for necropsy; the examination revealed a mass measuring 40.0 × 35.0 cm in the abdominal cavity that causeddisplacement of the intestines and compressed the liver against the diaphragm, as well as another mass that traversed thediaphragm through the esophageal hiatus and surrounded the esophagus, aorta, and caudal vena cava. The right adrenalgland was compressed and adhered to the mass, and the left adrenal gland was not visualized. Specimens of variousorgans were collected, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and processed according to routine histological technique. Immunohistochemical examination performed on mass specimens revealed positivity for the...