Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Merkel cell tumor diagnosed between eyes of 12-year-old Yorkshire
By Konno, A et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·1998·Department of Biomedical Sciences, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Immunohistochemical diagnosis of a Merkel cell tumor in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old male Yorkshire Terrier was diagnosed with a Merkel cell tumor, a type of skin tumor, located between his eyes. The tumor was identified through a combination of clinical examination and special staining techniques that highlighted specific features of the tumor cells. After the tumor was surgically removed, it did come back a year later, but follow-up over the next 22 months showed no further growth or spread, indicating that it was benign. The dog is currently doing well after treatment.
People also search for: dog skin tumor treatment · Yorkshire Terrier skin problems · Merkel cell tumor in dogs
Abstract
We examined the clinical and immunohistochemical features of a Merkel (neuroendocrine) cell tumor on the skin between the eyes of a 12-year-old male Yorkshire Terrier dog. The tumor was characterized by locally expansive dermal nodules composed of solid nests or clusters of epithelioid cells surrounded by fine fibrous stroma. Basal cell epithelioma, Merkel cell tumor, and extramedullary plasmacytoma were also considered as diagnoses. Because the cytoplasm of the tumor cells stained positively for cytokeratin and chromogranin A but not for immunoglobulins, the tumor was diagnosed as a Merkel cell tumor. An electron-microscopic study of a tissue specimen revealed electron-dense granules approximately 200 nm in diameter. These granules were irregularly dispersed throughout the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, which would be expected in neuroendocrine cells. Twelve months after resection, a 0.8-cm-diameter tumor recurred at the original site. However, further follow-up of 22 months revealed no evidence of additional tumor growth, invasion, or metastasis, so we concluded that this tumor was benign.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9823596/