Skin lymphoma linked to gut lymphoma in Maltese dog

Abstract

An 11-year-old spayed female Maltese dog was presented to a teaching hospital due to anorexia, weight loss, and nodular skin lesions. The dog had been diagnosed with small-cell T-cell gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma 2 wk before presentation and had received long-term medical management for atopic dermatitis. On physical examination, enlarged submandibular, prescapular, and popliteal lymph nodes were detected bilaterally. Erythema, edema, and crusts were also present on the periocular region with alopecia. In addition, multiple erythematous nodules were detected on the body surface. Fine-needle aspirate (FNA) from the lesions showed a population of large, round cells with prominent nucleoli, suggestive of cutaneous lymphoma. Based on the history, physical examination, and FNA cytology, the disease was suspected to be secondary cutaneous lymphoma secondary to small T-cell GI lymphoma with involvement of lymph nodes. The dog died on the day of the hospital visit, and further diagnostic procedures and treatment could not be conducted. Key clinical message: Soon after abdominal surgery that incompletely resected a small T-cell GI lymphoma, a dog rapidly developed secondary cutaneous lymphoma with erythematous skin nodules and several enlarged peripheral lymph nodes. Features were acute onset, severe systemic illness, and rapid cutaneous involvement. The diagnosis was confirmed based on FNA of nodules and enlarged lymph nodes supported the diagnosis, but the dog died very soon after referral.