A case of bilateral renal lymphosarcoma with secondary polycythaemia and paraneoplastic syndromes of hypoglycaemia and uveitis in an English Springer Spaniel

Primary renal lymphosarcoma in dogs has rarely been reported. Controversy exists whether it is a primary neoplasm of the kidney or a metastatic neoplasm. The case described is the first reported case of treatment with chemotherapy for a dog with renal lymphosarcoma.     

Paraneoplastic manifestations of cancer in horses

Paraneoplastic manifestations of cancer, probably under‐recognised in equine clinical practice, are often observed before the underlying primary disease is identified. This review provides a summary of paraneoplastic phenomena that have been reported in horses. The inclusion of paraneoplastic explanations in the differential diagnosis of common and challenging clinical problems should lead to earlier diagnosis and greater chance for successful therapeutic outcomes. In some cases, alterations in the clinical severity of paraneoplastic signs can be used as indicators of disease progression or response to treatment.     

Canine pancreatic islet cell tumours secreting insulin‐like growth factor type 2: a rare entity

Insulin‐like growth factor type II (IGF‐II) is the main cause of non‐islet cell tumour hypoglycaemia (NICTH) and insulin is thought to be the only factor causing hypoglycaemia in insulinomas. However, two case reports of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs) producing IGF‐II have been previously published: a human and a canine patient. In this study, we investigated clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features, and biological behaviour of canine pancreatic IGF‐II‐omas, a subgroup of PNETs that has not been previously characterized. Case records of 58 dogs with confirmed PNETs and hypoglycaemia were reviewed: six patients were affected by IGF‐II‐omas. Surgery was performed in all cases and two dogs had metastases. Four patients remained alive and in remission at 370, 440, 560 and 890 days post‐diagnosis; two died of non‐tumour‐related causes. IGF‐II‐omas can be differentiated from insulinomas through hypoinsulinaemia, IGF‐II positive and insulin negative immunostaining. The prevalence of this neoplasia is low, accounting for just 6% of PNETs.     

Pancreatic mixed acinar-endocrine carcinoma in a dog

A 10.5‐year‐old crossbreed dog was presented with a history of hypoglycaemic episodes and elevated serum insulin concentration. A pancreatic mass was removed at surgery along with an enlarged draining lymph node. An unresectable hepatic nodule was also present. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the pancreatic and lymph node masses as functional mixed acinar‐endocrine carcinoma, previously unreported in domestic species. Persistent hypoglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia post‐operatively was highly suggestive of the hepatic mass being a functional metastasis. The dog was managed on prednisolone and remained asymptomatic 9 months post‐operatively. This tumour type has only been rarely reported in human patients and may highlight the need for more rigorous immunohistochemical staining of pancreatic masses in veterinary species to identify the prevalence of this tumour type.