Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour in the Urinary Bladder of a Dog.

A 15-year-old neutered male miniature pinscher was presented with a pedunculated mass (4 × 1 cm) in its urinary bladder. Exploratory cystotomy revealed that the mass was located at the trigone of the bladder and projected into the lumen. The cut surface of the mass was homogeneous grey to tan in colour with focal brown pigmentation. Microscopically, the mass was predominantly composed of neoplastic spindle cells characterized by moderate cellular pleomorphism, invasion into the muscular layer of the bladder wall and few mitotic figures. The neoplastic spindle cells formed interwoven bundles intersecting at various angles. Immunohistochemically, these cells were negative for cytokeratin 7 and α-smooth muscle actin, but strongly expressed S100 and vimentin, confirming a diagnosis of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (PNST). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a primary malignant PNST in the urinary bladder of a dog.

Predictors for the progression of geographic atrophy in patients with age-related macular degeneration: fundus autofluorescence study with modified fundus camera.

PURPOSE: We examined the association between abnormal fundus autofluorescence (FAF) features on images obtained by a modified fundus camera (mFC) and geographic atrophy (GA) progression in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Serial FAF images of 131 eyes from 131 patients with GA were included in the study. All FAF images were obtained with an mFC (excitation, ∼ 500-610 nm; emission, ∼ 675-715 nm). The GA area was quantified at baseline and 1 year later using a customized segmentation program. The yearly GA enlargement rate was then calculated. Abnormal FAF patterns in the junctional zone of GA were classified as None or Minimal change, Focal, Patchy, Banded, or Diffuse according to previously published classification based on confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO). The relationship between GA enlargement and abnormal FAF was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean rate of GA enlargement was the fastest in eyes with Diffuse pattern (1.74 mm(2) per year), followed by eyes with the Banded pattern (1.69 mm(2) per year). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that eyes with the Banded and Diffuse pattern had significantly higher risk for GA enlargement compared with eyes with the other patterns. CONCLUSIONS: FAF image obtained by mFC appears to be acceptable for evaluating GA in accordance with an established cSLO-based classification. Eyes with the Banded or the Diffuse patterns of abnormal FAF at baseline indicate a high risk for GA progression. Identifying patients at high risk for GA progression using an mFC is broadly available method that can provide additional information to help predict disease course.

Diagnostic efficacy of total homocysteine and C-reactive protein for ocular ischemic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To assess diagnostic efficacy of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels for ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS). METHODS: In all, 87 patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO), 955 patients with a stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) <90% and 159 patients with a stenosis of ICA >90% were included between 2003 and 2009. A total of 43 patients with a stenosis ICA >90% were diagnosed as OIS. Fasting tHcy, CRP, lipid profiles, creatinine were measured, and diagnostic values of hyperhomocysteinemia or elevated CRP for OIS were evaluated. RESULT: The mean plasma levels of tHcy (18.8 µmol/l) and CRP (1.1 mmol/l) were the highest in patients with OIS among the groups. The prevalences of hyperhomocysteinemia (72%) and elevated CRP (77%) were the highest in OIS among the groups. In patients with stenosis of ICA, the diagnostic sensitivity/specificity for OIS was 70/79% in hyperhomocysteinemia and 73/73% in elevated CRP. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for OIS were 53 and 86% in both hyperhomocysteinemia and elevated CRP. The lipid profiles and creatinine levels were similar among the groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia and elevated CRP may be associated with the development of OIS. The measurements of tHcy and CRP in blood may help to assist the diagnosis of OIS in a stenosis of ICA.

Immunohistochemistry diagnosis of an ovarian dysgerminoma in one bitch.

An ovarian enlargement (diameter, 8 cm) was identified and surgically excised from a 5-year-old female dog. Microscopic examination of the multinodular neoplasm revealed sheets of polygonal neoplastic cells with large nuclei, frequent mitosis, necrosis and haemorrhage. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and alkaline phosphatase but were negative for CD3, CD79a, cytokeratin, alpha-fetoprotein, inhibin-alpha and S-100. The histopathological diagnosis of the mass was unilateral ovarian dysgerminoma.