Magnetic resonance imaging findings of the primitive neuroectodermal tumour in lumbosacral spinal cord in a cat.

A 5-year-old, castrated, male domestic short-haired cat presented with neurological deficits in the pelvic limbs, back pain and dysuria. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass lesion caudal to the L4 vertebrae. In addition, suspected haemorrhage was observed at the cranial aspect of the mass. There was no evidence to support the presence of extravertebral intrusion or vertebral body, osteolysis. Dorsal laminectomy and durotomy were performed to debulk the intraspinal mass. Histopathological and immunohistochemical assessment revealed a primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET). To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the clinical and pathological features and imaging diagnosis of intraspinal PNET without extraspinal invasion in a cat.

Dysuria Associated with Non-Neoplastic Bone Hyperplasia of the Os Penis in a Pug Dog.

A three-year-old male Pug presented with a three-year history of urolithiasis and repeated urethral obstruction. Biochemical analysis, ultrasonography, and retrograde urethrocystography revealed probable portosystemic shunt and incomplete urethral obstruction due to uric acid ammonium calculi. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed portosystemic shunt and proliferation of the osseous tissue of the os penis, which was surgically removed. Histopathologically, the excised osseous tissue comprised bland lamellar bone without atypia or inflammation. Hyperplasia of the os penis was diagnosed based on the image findings and histopathology. The dysuria improved postoperatively. This is the first report of dysuria associated with non-neoplastic bone hyperplasia of the os penis in a dog. Careful evaluation of the os penis by CT is needed for accurate diagnosis in case of repeated penile urethral obstruction.

A case of prostate B-cell lymphoma recognized in the contents of an irreducible perineal hernia in a dog.

We present a case of an intact 14-year-old male dog with a prostate B-cell lymphoma recognized in the contents of an irreducible perineal hernia. The enlarged prostate was replaced after reducing its size by partial excision, and the perineal hernia was repaired using the tunica vaginalis communis. However, the pelvic cavity was largely occupied by the replaced prostate, and urinary retention developed. The prostate was resected on the next day via abdominal median incision, and a bladder-urethra anastomosis was performed. Lymphoma has rarely been demonstrated to develop in the prostate, with the lesion comprising the hernia contents. The present study suggests the necessity of early treatment for perineal hernias and the possibility that lymphoma may be present in the hernia contents.

First case of salivary mucocele originating from the minor salivary gland of the soft palate in a dog.

We found a case of salivary mucocele that originated in the minor salivary gland (palatine gland) of the soft palate in a dog. At first admission, the soft palate swelled remarkably. Computed tomography (CT) revealed cystic radiolucency inside a large quantity of liquid in the soft palate, and most of the airway was occupied. Marsupialization was performed, but since a recurrence was observed one month later, the salivary mucocele was removed. There has been no report of salivary mucocele arising from the minor salivary gland of the soft palate in dogs. To our knowledge, this case is the first. Complete removal, including minor salivary glands surrounding the lesion, is necessary for treatment of salivary mucocele in dogs.

A case of feline sporotrichosis.

We excised surgically a feline granulomatous lesion and performed histopathological, mycological and molecular examinations. As a result, it was diagnosed as sporotrichosis, which was the second recorded case of a cat so afflicted in Japan. After the operation, we recognized another nodule on the lymph node. Histopathological examination was therefore performed, but no fungi were detected. To prevent recurrence, the cat was administered a antimycotic drug, itraconazole. As a result, no recurrence was found. Excision of the lesion is the treatment of choice for feline sporotrichosis.

Generation of canine dendritic cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells that are expected to be therapeutic agents for tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we generated DCs of sufficient number for DC-based immunotherapy from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in dogs. PBMC were cultured in the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). On day 6, large adherent cells with dendrite-like projections were seen, and the number of these large cells with projections increased on day 8. These cells were positive for esterase staining. They expressed MHC class II, CD11b, CD8 and weakly CD4 on their surface. They tended to make contact with lymphocytes under culture conditions. We obtained about 2-5 x 10(6) of DCs from 10 ml of peripheral blood. These DCs phagocytosed HEK-293 cells by overnight co-culturing. These cells generated from PBMC are possible canine DCs and are applicable to clinical trials of DC-based whole tumor cell immunotherapy in dogs.