Primary Tracheal Squamous Cells Carcinoma in a Dog

Primary tracheal neoplasms are uncommon and poorly documented in veterinary medicine, being most frequently reported in domestic cats. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant neoplasm that originates from the stratified squamous epithelium, considered one of the most common skin neoplasms in dogs and cats. This paper aims to report the anatomopathological and immunohistochemical findings of a clinical case of primary SCC in the trachea of ​​a female Schnauzer canine, attended at the Veterinary Hospital Luiz Quintiliano de Oliveira of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA ­ UNESP), complaining of choking, coughing and dyspnea for 1 month. The tracheal portion affected by the neoplasm was sent to the Veterinary Pathology department of the FMVA after surgical excision. Fragments of the neoplasm were collected and fixed in 10% formaldehyde for further histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Microscopically, the neoplasm was well differentiated, being characterized by the presence of keratin pearls, low degree of pleomorphism and rare mitotic figures. In the immunohistochemical analysis, there was immunoexpression of anti-cytokeratin antibodies AE1AE3, 34BE12, CK14 and CK5/6, confirming the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. In about 30% of the cells there was immunostaining for Ki67 antibodies, justifying the low mitotic index of tumor cells and the few images of mitosis seen. Due to the rare occurrence of primary tracheal SCC in dogs, the use of diversified diagnostic techniques is important in order to better understand the biological behavior of this neoplasm in unusual anatomical locations.(AU)

Adenocarcinoma traqueal em um gato / Tracheal adenocarcinoma in a cat

Background: Primary tracheal adenocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm in cats. The clinical signs often are indicative of upper airway obstruction accompanied with dyspnea, stridor, wheezing, exercise intolerance, and cough. The severity of the clinical signs is related to the size of the mass and consequently, the proportion of the tracheal lumen that is obstructed. The diagnosis is made using thoracic radiography and tracheobronchoscopy by collecting fragments for histopathological analysis and removing the mass. The present study aimed to report the case of a cat with tracheal adenocarcinoma. Case: A 17-year-old Persian female cat presented with clinical signs of dyspnea and progressive weight loss. Emergency therapy was started with bronchodilators, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, but there was no response to treatment. Complementary blood and imaging tests were performed. Thoracic radiography revealed soft tissue opacity overlying the dorsal trachea from the third to the fourth rib, bronchial pattern, and pulmonary hyperinflation. Tracheoscopy showed an irregular intraluminal thoracic trachea mass, occluded by approximately 95% of the airway lumen. The mass was biopsied multiple times with endoscopic cup biopsy forceps, followed by removal of approximately 50% of the mass lesion with an endoscopic wire snare. The patient was in intensive care, and since her clinical condition worsened 48 h after the endoscopic procedure, euthanasia was performed. Necropsy revealed a remanescent mass located in the trachea lumen 8 x 3 mm and a nodule in the right caudal pulmonary lobe with 8 mm of diameter . Histological examination showed epitelian cuboidal neoplastic cells with acinar patterns. Only a few mitosis and moderate anysocitosis were observed. The final diagnosis was primary tracheal adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastasis...(AU)

Extranodal B cell lymphoma in the trachea of a domestic cat

Background: Primary tracheal tumors are considered uncommon in veterinary medicine and among them extranodal tracheal lymphoma, which is a neoplastic type, has rarely been described, especially with the use of immunophenotyping. Consequently, there is a lack of knowledge inherent to the characteristics of this tumor type in felines and as a result little information on how to deal with animals affected by this disease. Therefore, there is a need for more studies focusing on this matter. The objective of this work is to report a case of extranodal B cell lymphoma in the trachea of a domestic cat and point out the clinical and pathological characteristics of this neoplastic type. Case: A 5-year-old domestic cat, of an oriental breed, was taken to a veterinary clinic exclusively for cats in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main complaint was difficulty in breathing and loss of appetite and historical data included intolerance to exercise. A clinical examination confirmed inspiratory dyspnea and upper respiratory sounds. Hematological and serum biochemical exams did not evidence any noteworthy changes and the cat was considered negative for feline viral leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses through serological and molecular testing. However, in the radiographic examination of the thoracic cervical region, an opacity was observed that occluded part of the tracheal lumen and this was suggestive of a mass in the initial third of the trachea, measuring 0.5 cm in diameter. The animal was stabilized and then 24 h after admission underwent inspection of the oral cavity and a biopsy of the tracheal mass was performed. Cytology of the specimen was suggestive of lymphoma. The treatment of choice was: lomustine with a single, oral dose of 10 mg; vincristine sulfate with a single intravenous dose of 0.75 mg/m²; and methylprednisolone acetate with a single...(AU)

Extranodal B cell lymphoma in the trachea of a domestic cat

Background: Primary tracheal tumors are considered uncommon in veterinary medicine and among them extranodal tracheal lymphoma, which is a neoplastic type, has rarely been described, especially with the use of immunophenotyping. Consequently, there is a lack of knowledge inherent to the characteristics of this tumor type in felines and as a result little information on how to deal with animals affected by this disease. Therefore, there is a need for more studies focusing on this matter. The objective of this work is to report a case of extranodal B cell lymphoma in the trachea of a domestic cat and point out the clinical and pathological characteristics of this neoplastic type. Case: A 5-year-old domestic cat, of an oriental breed, was taken to a veterinary clinic exclusively for cats in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main complaint was difficulty in breathing and loss of appetite and historical data included intolerance to exercise. A clinical examination confirmed inspiratory dyspnea and upper respiratory sounds. Hematological and serum biochemical exams did not evidence any noteworthy changes and the cat was considered negative for feline viral leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses through serological and molecular testing. However, in the radiographic examination of the thoracic cervical region, an opacity was observed that occluded part of the tracheal lumen and this was suggestive of a mass in the initial third of the trachea, measuring 0.5 cm in diameter. The animal was stabilized and then 24 h after admission underwent inspection of the oral cavity and a biopsy of the tracheal mass was performed. Cytology of the specimen was suggestive of lymphoma. The treatment of choice was: lomustine with a single, oral dose of 10 mg; vincristine sulfate with a single intravenous dose of 0.75 mg/m²; and methylprednisolone acetate with a single...

Adenocarcinoma traqueal em um gato / Tracheal adenocarcinoma in a cat

Background: Primary tracheal adenocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm in cats. The clinical signs often are indicative of upper airway obstruction accompanied with dyspnea, stridor, wheezing, exercise intolerance, and cough. The severity of the clinical signs is related to the size of the mass and consequently, the proportion of the tracheal lumen that is obstructed. The diagnosis is made using thoracic radiography and tracheobronchoscopy by collecting fragments for histopathological analysis and removing the mass. The present study aimed to report the case of a cat with tracheal adenocarcinoma. Case: A 17-year-old Persian female cat presented with clinical signs of dyspnea and progressive weight loss. Emergency therapy was started with bronchodilators, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, but there was no response to treatment. Complementary blood and imaging tests were performed. Thoracic radiography revealed soft tissue opacity overlying the dorsal trachea from the third to the fourth rib, bronchial pattern, and pulmonary hyperinflation. Tracheoscopy showed an irregular intraluminal thoracic trachea mass, occluded by approximately 95% of the airway lumen. The mass was biopsied multiple times with endoscopic cup biopsy forceps, followed by removal of approximately 50% of the mass lesion with an endoscopic wire snare. The patient was in intensive care, and since her clinical condition worsened 48 h after the endoscopic procedure, euthanasia was performed. Necropsy revealed a remanescent mass located in the trachea lumen 8 x 3 mm and a nodule in the right caudal pulmonary lobe with 8 mm of diameter . Histological examination showed epitelian cuboidal neoplastic cells with acinar patterns. Only a few mitosis and moderate anysocitosis were observed. The final diagnosis was primary tracheal adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastasis...

Stent placed by endoscopy for the treatment of tracheal obstruction caused by a tumor in a domestic cat

Background: Tracheal tumors are rare and may cause obstruction of the trachea. The neoplasms most commonly diagnosed in cats are lymphosarcoma, squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. Surgical resection may provide a clinical cure for small, benign and localized tumors. For malignant neoplasia, surgery is usually palliative. Tracheal segment excision is an invasive procedure, particularly when the intrathoracic trachea is involved, and this increases the risk of stenosis, surgical suture dehiscence, necrosis and pneumothorax. Intraluminal tracheal stents have been used in dogs with tracheobronchomalacia, presenting a feasible alternative to surgery for the treatment of tracheal lumen obstruction. Case: A 11-year-old male mixed-breed cat was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (HCV-UFRGS) with a history of appetite loss, wasting and progressive inspiratory dyspnea, for the last 30 days. The cat presenting with oral breathing. Radiography of the lateral thorax shown a radiopaque area, 1cm in diameter, superimposed in the tracheal region, close to the carina cartilage, at the fourth intercostal space. A tracheoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of tracheal neoplasia, which was identified as an adenocarcinoma by biopsy and histopathology. Given that surgical resection may result in significant morbidity and consequent mortality, the owner chose a palliative treatment without adjuvant therapy for adenocarcinoma until acquisition of the stent, with partial resection of the tumor performed during tracheoscopy. This procedure was performed twice at an interval of three months. After the first endoscopic examination, the patient regained weight and normal behavior. Three months after the second tracheoscopy, signs of labored breathing recurred. At this point, the obstruction was treated with implantation of an intratracheal stent. A nitinol biliary stent, 35 mm in length, 8 mm in diameter, was applied during tracheoscopy without fluoroscopy aid. The cat received postoperative treatment with dexamethasone 0.25 mg.kg­¹ SID for seven days. The patient showed immediate clinical improvement in dyspnea, but retained an episodic cough. After six months, the cat suffered a relapse of dyspnea. Radiographic examination revealed a large area of radiopacity in the region of the tracheal stent, suggesting an increase in size of the tumor, and possible metastasis in the lung parenchyma. The patient underwent repeat tracheoscopy, and almost complete obstruction of the tracheal lumen was found. The cat died during this procedure. Post-mortem examination was requested, which confirmed tracheal obstruction resulting from growth of the tumor, and pulmonary metastasis. Discussion: There are few reports of tracheal neoplasms in cats, because they are uncommon. The diagnosis was based on radiography, tracheoscopy and incisional biopsy. Treatment with surgery involves high morbidity and mortality. For this reason we chose the use of a tracheal stent, although palliative in cases of cancer. Stents are frequently used in humans with malignant tracheal obstruction, but the few reports in the veterinary literature, are focused on dogs presenting with tracheobronchomalacia. In cats, a few cases of tracheal stenosis and tumors have been treated experimentally with stents, which have shown success in reestablishing an airway. In previous reports, the technique has always been carried out with the aid of fluoroscopy. The application of the stent using tracheoscopy alone was efficient. The patient in this report suvived for one year since it diagnosed before near-total obstruction of the trachea occurred. Therefore this was a palliative measure, which allowed the patient a good quality of life while receiving adjuvant therapy when possible or necessary.

Surgical resection of a primary tracheal fibrosarcoma in a dog.

A four-year-old, entire male Rottweiler was presented with a history of respiratory distress. A tracheal mass was diagnosed on thoracic radiographs and tracheoscopy. Surgical excision of three tracheal rings incorporating the tumour was performed. The mass was found to be a low-grade fibrosarcoma. Twenty-four months later, the owner reported that there was no recurrence of respiratory distress and the dog appeared to be doing well clinically. This case of primary tracheal fibrosarcoma suggests that this type of tumour should be listed in the differential diagnoses for tracheal neoplasia in dogs and that surgical treatment alone may be curative.