Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Monster cells found in carotid body tumor of Shih-tzu dog
By Romanucci, M et al.·Published in Journal of comparative pathology·2014·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cytological, histological and ultrastructural nuclear features of monster cells in a canine carotid body carcinoma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female Shih Tzu was brought to the vet because she was having severe breathing problems and a large mass was found in her neck. Tests showed that the mass was a carotid body carcinoma, a type of tumor that can affect the neck area. The tumor contained unusual giant cells with specific features that had not been seen before in dogs. Fortunately, there were no signs that the cancer had spread to other parts of her body. The vet will likely discuss treatment options to manage the tumor and help improve her breathing.
People also search for: Shih Tzu breathing problems · dog neck tumor treatment · carotid body carcinoma in dogs
Abstract
A 7-year-old female Shih-tzu dog was presented with severe dyspnoea. A large mass was palpated in the left cranial neck. Cytological examination of an aspirate sample revealed cells with marked anisokaryosis, giant elements and many bare nuclei. Scattered intact giant cells showed scant, granular cytoplasm and intranuclear inclusions. Histologically, neoplastic cells were subdivided into lobules by fine collagenous trabeculae. Numerous pleomorphic giant, or 'monster', cells were observed, showing a highly indented nuclear envelope, intranuclear cytoplasmic pseudoinclusions (ICPs) and 'ground-glass' nuclear appearance. Neoplastic emboli were present, but no distant metastases were detected grossly. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells expressed synaptophysin and had variable expression of neuron-specific enolase and vimentin. The cells were negative for pan-cytokeratin, CAM 5.2, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100. Nuclear abnormalities and cytoplasmic neurosecretory granules were noted ultrastructurally. These features were consistent with a diagnosis of carotid body carcinoma (chemodectoma). Monster cells with ICPs have not been documented previously in canine chemodectoma.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24811273/