Primary chondrosarcoma in the skull of a dog

Chondrosarcoma of the skull is a rare primary malignant tumor that is slow-growing, but locally aggressive. A 5-year-old, golden retriever was presented to our hospital with a swelling in the left side of her head, and the swelling had slowly enlarged over the previous month. There were no significant changes on the neurological examination. A computed tomography scan revealed a large mass involving bone destruction and prominent matrix mineralization. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed a slightly low-signal intensity area and a T2-weighted image revealed marked, high-signal intensity. There was compression of the adjacent brain parenchyma. Histopathological examination confirmed the lesion to be a chondrosarcoma.     

Abdominal aortic chondrosarcoma in a dog

A 14-year-old, mixed breed dog was presented with acute pain and paresis of the hindlimbs. Ultrasonography revealed an intraluminal mass and an abrupt halt of blood flow signal in the distal abdominal aorta. The mass had homogeneous hyperechoic echotexture compared with blood flow. Although clinical presentation suggested a thromboembolism and pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism was suspected as a predisposing cause based on adrenal function tests and ultrasonography, an aortic chondrosarcoma originating from the distal abdominal aorta was diagnosed with histologic examination. Primary aortic sarcoma is extremely rare, and extraskeletal chondrosarcoma is only reported in 2 cases previously. Aortic neoplasm should be included in differential diagnosis when an intraluminal aortic mass is observed on ultrasonography and acute paresis of hindlimbs is shown.     

Metastatic intraocular chondrosarcoma in a dog

Chondrosarcoma accounts for about 10% of all canine bone tumors and is the second most common primary bone tumor in dogs. In veterinary medicine, chondrosarcomas are classified as skeletal and extraskeletal. Extraskeletal chondrosarcomas are mesenchymal neoplasms of soft tissues and visceral organs that produce neoplastic chondrocytes in a fibrillary matrix. There is no involvement of bone or periosteal tissues in extraskeletal chondrosarcomas. The aim of this report is to describe the first case of a metastatic intraocular extraskeletal chondrosarcoma in a dog.     

Primary chondrosarcoma in the liver of a dog

Primary chondrosarcoma was found in the quadrate lobe of the liver of a 6-year-old, intact, male Golden Retriever. At 6 months after partial hepatectomy, recurrence in the liver occurred. The dog died of its systemic metastases 10 months thereafter. Histologically, the hepatic mass revealed neoplastic chondrocytes with abundant chondroid matrix, and there were few myxoid areas where the cellularity and pleomorphism of the neoplastic cells were more prominent. The neoplastic cells were positive for periodic acid-Schiff and were immunohistochemically positive for vimentin and S-100 protein; the matrix was deeply stained for alcian blue and was metachromatic for toluidine blue stain. This tumor might be derived from pluripotent mesenchymal cells in the connective tissue of the liver. To the best of our knowledge, in all mammalians, including humans, this is the first report of extraskeletal chondrosarcoma primarily arising in the liver.     

Congenital hindlimb rigidity in a dog

Muscle biopsies and electromyography were used in the study of a congenital muscle disorder in a dog with hyperextension of one hind limb.     

Primary splenic mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a dog

A large splenic mass was found during exploratory celiotomy in a 12-year-old Labrador retriever. Histologic examination of the mass revealed a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. The dog was euthanatized 7 wk postoperatively, due to suspected tumor recurrence. Extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcomas are rare in dogs and are associated with a guarded prognosis.     

Primary pulmonary chondrosarcoma in a dog.

Extraosseous chondrosarcomas are uncommon in the dog, and those originating in the lung are rare. This report presents a 9-year-old Beagle dog with a pulmonary mass which caused depression, fever, tachypnea, cough, and laboratory abnormalities. The mass was composed predominantly of chondroid tissue, and was histologically diagnosed as chondrosarcoma.     

Limb salvage in a dog with chondrosarcoma of the tibia

Limb salvage was accomplished by using a frozen allograft bone and arthrodesis of the stifle joint in a 5-year-old male German Shepherd Dog with a chondrosarcoma in the proximal tibia. At 17 months after surgery, limb function was satisfactory, and thoracic radiography did not reveal evidence of pulmonary metastases.     

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a young German shepherd dog

An 18-month-old, entire male German shepherd dog was presented with signs indicative of a caudal abdominal space-occupying mass. A needle-core biopsy of this mass failed to establish a definitive diagnosis, but identified a prominent round-cell component. The dog's condition worsened and euthanasia was performed on humane grounds. Histopathology of the mass revealed a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.     

Successful management of an arytenoid chondrosarcoma in a dog

An eight‐year‐old Doberman pinscher was presented with a four‐week history of inspiratory stridor, dysphonia, inappetence and weight loss. Inspiratory stridor was apparent and became more pronounced during gentle compression of the larynx. Previous investigations, including laryngoscopy, had revealed the presence of a left‐sided arytenoid mass. Histological examination of pinch biopsies was not diagnostic. The mass was removed by resection of the arytenoid cartilage through a ventral laryngotomy allowing salvage of the cuneiform process. Histological examination of the laryngeal mass was consistent with a chondrosarcoma, grade I, infiltrating the arytenoid cartilage. Re‐examination at 12 months showed complete resolution of the clinical signs and no signs of metastatic disease. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first report of successful surgical intervention for laryngeal chondrosarcoma. This case demonstrates that resection via a ventral laryngotomy may be a viable and curative therapeutic option for some sarcomas of the larynx.     

Vertebral chondrosarcoma with extensive pulmonary metastases in a dog

The clinical, radiological and pathological features of a chondrosarcoma of the second thoracic vertebra with extensive pulmonary metastases in a dog are presented.
Résumé. On présente les particularités cliniques, radiologiques et pathologiques d'un cas de chondrosarcome de la deuxième vertèbre thoracique, accompagné de métastases pulmonaires intenses. rencontré chez un chien.
Zusammenfassung. Die klinischen, radiologischen und pathologischen Merkmale eines Chondrosarkoms des zweiten Brustwirbels mit ausgedehnten Lungenmetastasen bci einern Hund werden beschrieben.     

Immunotherapy for treatment of multicentric cutaneous pythiosis in a dog

A 4-year-old Labrador Retriever was referred for evaluation of 2 ulcerative nodular cutaneous lesions. One lesion was located on the medial aspect of the right carpus; the other was located on the medial aspect of the left tarsus. The dog had spent its entire life in the southeastern part of the United States and approximately half of its time outdoors with free access to a nearby lake. Histologic examination of full-thickness wedge biopsy specimens from both lesions revealed severe, multifocal, puruloeosinophilic to pyogranulomatous deep dermatitis with intralesional filamentous structures, fibroplasia, and neovascularization. Examination of sections stained with Gomori methenamine silver stain revealed a moderate number of wide, bulbous, irregularly septate, branching hyphae. Results of an immunodiffusion test and an ELISA for anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies were positive. Amputation was eliminated as a treatment option because lesions involved 2 limbs. Long-term systemic antifungal treatment was also rejected because of the cost, lack of therapeutic effect in many cases, and potential for adverse effects. The dog was treated with 2 doses of an anti-P insidiosum vaccine administered 2 weeks apart. One month later, the lesions were nearly completely healed, and values obtained via the immunodiffusion test and ELISA had decreased. Results of the immunodiffusion test and ELISA were negative 1 year later, and the dog had not had any recurrences.     

Primary lymphedema of the hindlimb in the dog.

Congenital lymphedema was diagnosed clinically and confirmed radiographically in five dogs. In all dogs, hindlimbs were affected with painless pitting edema at birth or shortly thereafter. The absence of popliteal lymph nodes and lymphatic hyperplasia or lymphatic hypoplasia were detected by lymphangiography or necropsy (or both). Improvement was obtained by long-term bandaging in Robert Jones splints in one dog and by surgical excision of the affected superficial fascia and subcutaneous tissue in two dogs. The remaining two dogs were euthanatized after lymphangiographic studies and were necropsied to confirm the diagnosis.