What is your diagnosis? Vertebral mass in a dog

Abstract: A 1‐year‐old, castrated male, mixed‐breed dog was presented for sporadic episodes of kyphosis, tremors, and vocalizing. On neurologic examination, the lesion was localized to spinal cord segments T3–L3. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed an expansile mass occupying most of the ventral aspect of the spinous process of T6. Fine‐needle aspirates of the mass were examined cytologically. A moderately cellular population of pleomorphic spindle cells and abundant mucinous matrix were observed. The cytologic diagnosis was spindle cell neoplasia, with myxosarcoma and fibrosarcoma as the primary differential diagnoses. The dog was euthanized. Histopathologic evaluation of the mass and surrounding tissue confirmed a low‐grade spindle cell sarcoma, with severe compressive myelopathy and mild neutrophilic inflammation. The neoplastic cells stained positive for mucopolysaccharides with Alcian blue, resulting in a final diagnosis of low‐grade (grade 1) myxosarcoma. Fine‐needle aspiration was useful in making a preliminary diagnosis of myxosarcoma in this case. Myxosarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for a vertebral mass in a young dog.     

Abdominal ultrasonographic findings at diagnosis of osteosarcoma in dogs and association with treatment outcome

The purpose of this study was to describe abdominal ultrasonographic findings present at diagnosis of osteosarcoma (OSA) in dogs and to investigate for associations with treatment outcome. Medical records from 118 dogs diagnosed with OSA that had abdominal ultrasonography performed as part of their initial evaluation were reviewed. Fifty‐seven percent had ultrasonographic abnormalities identified. The organ with the highest frequency of ultrasonographic changes was the spleen. While most sonographic changes were considered to be either benign or of unknown clinical consequences, metastases were identified in three dogs (2.5%), two of which (1.7%) did not have other evidence of metastasis. Dogs with any ultrasonographic abnormality were less likely to receive definitive therapy (P = 0.005) and exhibited shorter survival, although the latter observation was not statistically significant (P = 0.071). However, the identification of lesions in either the liver (P = 0.021) or the kidney (P = 0.003) was statistically associated with shorter survival.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATE AND TISSUE-CORE BIOPSY OF INTRATHORACIC LESIONS IN THIRTY DOGS AND CATS

Medical records and computed tomography (CT) images were reviewed retrospectively for 30 animals (27 dogs, two cats, one cougar) in which CT-guided intrathoracic fine-needle aspirates (FNA) (12), core biopsies (10) or both (8) were performed. Sample interpretation was listed as diagnostic or nondiagnostic and nonneoplasia or neoplasia. Diagnostic results were inconclusive in 35% FNA and 17% biopsies. FNA and biopsy interpretations were in agreement in seven patients, one nonneoplasia, and six neoplasia. A clinical diagnosis was made in 65% FNA and 83% biopsies. When 18 patients with confirmed diagnoses were used, overall accuracy for diagnosis was 92% for FNA and biopsy and the sensitivity for neoplasia was 91% using fine needle aspirate and 80% using biopsy. Complications seen on CT images were noted in 43% of patients, four pneumothorax, five pulmonary hemorrhage, and four with both. No clinical manifestations were noted and treatment was not necessary. Significant correlation was noted between complications and penetration of aerated lung, but not with lesion location, type of disease, method of sampling, width of mass and depth of aerated lung penetrated. CT-guided sampling is relatively safe and useful in the diagnosis of intra-thoracic lesions, especially neoplasia. FNA samples are nondiagnostic more often than biopsy samples. Sub-clinical pneumothorax and hemorrhage are common when aerated lung is penetrated.     

Breeding soundness evaluation of bulls by semen analysis,testicular fine needle aspiration cytology and trans-scrotal ultrasonography

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of trans-scrotal ultrasonography and testicular fine needle aspiration cytology in assessing bulls for breeding suitability. These two techniques were also compared with semen analysis. Bulls presented for breeding soundness evaluation were assessed using all three techniques. The findings of each technique were compared. There was agreement in classification of fertile bulls using all three techniques, suggesting that the combined use of these techniques enhances routine breeding soundness examination. Use of the three techniques also enhances detailed investigation of suspected sub-fertile bulls while accurately identifying testicular cause(s) of sire sub-fertility.     

SCINTIGRAPHIC DETECTION OF SUBCUTANEOUS METASTASIS IN A DOG WITH APPENDICULAR OSTEOSARCOMA

This report describes the detection of subclinical soft tissue metastasis of an appendicular osteosarcoma in a dog using bone scintigraphy. A 7-year-old spayed female Rottweiler was presented with a biopsy confirmed diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Initial radiographs revealed an aggressive bone lesion of the left distal radius. At presentation, there was no clinical or radiographic evidence of metastasis; however, a nuclear bone scan showed the primary bone lesion of the distal left radius and numerous soft tissue lesions consistent with diffuse soft tissue metastases. A left foreleg amputation was performed and cisplatin chemotherapy was given post-operatively. A second bone scan performed one month following initial presentation showed progression in size and number of soft tissue masses. Many of the lesions had become apparent on physical exam and survey radiographs. Excisional biopsy was performed on one of the soft tissue masses and a diagnosis of metastatic osteosarcoma was made. The dog was euthanized 2 months after initial presentation at the owners request due to deterioration of the animals physical condition.     

CAN SONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS PREDICT THE RESULTS OF LIVER ASPIRATES IN DOGS WITH SUSPECTED LIVER DISEASE?

While abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology are often combined to help determine the type of liver disease in dogs, little is known about the relationship that may exist between the results of these tests. We hypothesized that specific sonographic findings, or combinations of findings, may predict results of liver ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. Hepatic and extrahepatic sonographic findings were recorded prospectively using a standardized form in 70 dogs with clinically suspected liver disease and in which liver ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed. The predictive value of sonographic findings in regard to the category of cytology results was assessed with stepwise logistic regression analysis. Sonographic detection of a hepatic mass (≥3 cm; risk ratio [RR] 3.83, 95% Wald confidence intervals [95% CI] 2.42–3.93, P =0.0036), ascites (RR 3.82, 95% CI 1.94–4.28, P =0.0044), abnormal hepatic lymph node(s) (RR 3.01, 95% CI 1.22–4.88, P =0.0262), and abnormal spleen (RR 3.26, 95% CI 1.20–3.85, P =0.0274) were the most predictive of liver neoplasia on cytology. Conversely, sonographic detection of hepatic nodules (<3 cm; RR 1.97, 95% CI 0.95–2.96, P =0.0666) was most predictive of vacuolar hepatopathy on cytology. In dogs with suspected liver disease, several sonographic findings, alone or combined, are thus predictive of liver ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology results. In the light of the fact that ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of the liver has limitations, these predictabilities could influence the selection of diagnostic tests to reach a reliable diagnosis.