Uterine leiomyosarcoma and pyometra in a dog.

A seven-year-old entire female, mixed-breed dog, weighing 19 kg, was presented with a 2-day history of abdominal distension, reduced appetite and general dullness. Abdominal palpation revealed a large mass. Radiography showed a large mass occupying the left mid-abdominal area and convoluted loops of tubular fluid opacity occupying the right mid-abdominal area. Ultrasonography revealed a large heterogeneous mass with an anechoic area and some hyperechoic foci, indicative of calcification, in the mid-abdominal area. Furthermore, hypoechoic areas were found in the middle and caudal abdominal area and were presumed to be the fluid-filled uterine horns. At laparotomy, a 10·5×14·5-cm firm mass was found in the uterine body, while the uterine horns were filled with a thick red-brownish exudate; ovariohysterectomy was subsequently performed. A diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma associated with pyometra was established by histopathology and immunohistochemistry.

Immunohistochemical expression of dog TERT in canine testicular tumours in relation to PCNA, ki67 and p53 expression.

The objective of the study was to determine the immunohistochemical expression of canine TERT in canine testicular tumours comparing two different antibodies for TERT, and to correlate them with well established markers specific to dividing cells such as PCNA and ki67, and with expression of the p53 tumour suppressor gene. The study included 36 cases of canine testicular tumours, which were categorized as 12 Sertoli Cell Tumours (SCT), 20 seminomas, 3 interstitial cell tumours and 1 mixed germ cell-sex cord stromal tumour (MT). Two antibodies for hTERT were examined; a highly specific TERT antibody, RCK-hTERT, was evaluated for the first time. Immunodetection of RCK-hTERT was observed in 31% of tumours examined (6/20 Seminomas, 4/12 SCT, 1/3 interstitial cell tumour and 0/1 mixed germ cell-sex cord stromal tumour), while the NCL-hTERT in 67% of them (15/20 Seminomas, 6/12 SCT, 3/3 interstitial cell tumour and 0/1 ΜΤ). PCNA immunoreactivity was detected in all cases. Regarding ki67, 3 SCT, 12 seminomas and all interstitial cell tumours showed clear immunoreaction. p53 immunoreactivity was detected in 6 SCT, 15 seminomas and all interstitial cell tumours. The immunohistochemical expression of both TERT antibodies are discussed and compared in order to clarify their potential usefulness in canine testicular malignancies in relation to the expression of well known cell cycle markers. Our results indicate that TERT and PCNA are useful proliferation markers but not helpful to evaluate prognosis. Instead of that ki67 and p53 could be used for predicting aggressiveness in this group of tumours.