Pot-bellied Vietnamese pig with visceral mast cell tumors and mastocytemia.

An approximately 12-year-old female Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pig was presented to the Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine Food Animal Service for anorexia of 2 days duration. On physical examination, the patient appeared depressed and lethargic with significantly pale mucus membranes, open mouth breathing, and nostril flaring. On abdominal palpation, the abdomen was tense and uncomfortable. A complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry profile were performed. The CBC revealed significant anemia and mild leukocytosis characterized by mild neutrophilia with a left shift. Mast cells were rarely observed. Hematocrit = 8.1% (RI 22-50), RBC = 1.25 × 106 /µL (RI 3.6-7.8), WBC = 19.85 × 103 /µL (RI 5.2-17.9), Neutrophils = 15.08 × 103 /µL (RI 0-11.4), and Bands = 0.993 × 103 /µL (RI 0-0.019). The chemistry profile was unremarkable with a mildly elevated BUN and slightly decreased total protein and albumin (BUN = 39 mg/dL [RI 4.2-15.1], total protein = 6.2 g/dL [RI 6.6-8.9], and albumin = 2.5 g/dL [RI 3.6-5.0]). An abdominal ultrasound revealed numerous hypoechoic nodules diffusely scattered throughout the hepatic parenchyma. An FNA of one of the hepatic nodules was performed. A mild suppurative component and numerous variably granulated mast cells were observed. A presumptive cytologic diagnosis of mast cell tumor was made. Histopathology was performed, confirming the cytologic interpretation.

CSF from a puppy with a cerebral vascular hamartoma.

A 9-week-old puppy with refractory seizures and a dome-shaped head presented to the Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine Specialty Center for suspected hydrocephalus. Computerized tomography (CT) findings included transtentorial herniation and an intra-axial mass with dystrophic mineralization. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed an increased nucleated cell count of 1100/µl (RI < 5/µl), erythrocyte count of 2.2 × 106 /µl, and markedly increased microprotein of 1939 mg/dl (RI < 30 mg/dl). On cytologic examination of the CSF, numerous erythrophagocytic, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages were observed, which indicated chronic active hemorrhage. Many neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes that contained numerous intracytoplasmic, pleomorphic, bright yellow crystals were observed. Considering the ongoing hemorrhage, the crystals were presumed to be hematoidin. A biopsy with histopathology was performed on the intra-axial mass, and the results were consistent with a vascular hamartoma. We speculate that the formation of these crystals was related to the ongoing hemorrhage associated with the vascular hamartoma. Identification of these crystals may be useful to aid in the identification of chronic hemorrhage associated with vascular malformations or lesions within the central nervous system.

What is your diagnosis? Pancytopenia in a dog.

A 4-year-old male, castrated, mixed-breed dog was presented to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a 1-week history of polyuria, polydipsia, lethargy, fever, inappetence, weight loss, and soft mucoid stool. The dog was depressed and had pale, icteric mucous membranes. Results of a CBC included normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia, with 43% blast cells (200/microL), many of which contained fine azurophilic granules. Cytologic evaluation of the bone marrow aspirates revealed mild granulocytic hyperplasia that appeared to be left-shifted in an apparent maturation arrest. A large population of blast cells comprised 35% of nucleated cells; the blasts had high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios, deeply basophilic cytoplasm with vacuoles, and prominent nucleoli. Most cells also contained many fine azurophilic granules clustered in the paranuclear region. At necropsy, neoplastic cells were abundant in the bone marrow. Immunohistochemically the cells expressed CD3epsilon, and an oligoclonal T-cell rearrangement was found. The diagnosis was proliferative disorder of CD3(+) granular lymphocytes, with associated pancytopenia. Because the blast cells were morphologically similar to myeloblasts and immunohistochemistry was required to confirm the diagnosis, T-cell lymphoproliferative disease should be considered in dogs with pancytopenia presenting with similar clinical features.