Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lipid-rich pleural mesothelioma causing chest masses in a dog
By Avakian, Arlen et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2008·Charles River Laboratories, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lipid-rich pleural mesothelioma in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old neutered male Golden Retriever cross was euthanized after suffering from repeated fluid buildup around the heart (pericardial effusions). During the examination after death, the vet found blood-tinged fluid in the chest and multiple hard masses on the heart and surrounding areas. These masses were identified as a rare type of cancer called lipid-rich mesothelioma, which is associated with the lining of the chest cavity. Unfortunately, due to the advanced nature of the disease, treatment options were not effective, and the dog was humanely euthanized.
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Abstract
An 11-year-old, neutered, male Golden Retriever cross dog was euthanized following a history of recurrent pericardial effusions. At necropsy, blood-tinged pericardial and intrathoracic effusions were seen along with numerous firm to hard plaque-like masses that studded the epicardial, pericardial, mediastinal, and costal pleural surfaces. Within the right thorax, the lesions coalesced into a large mass that occupied most of the cavity. Histologically, the masses were composed of solid sheets and papillary aggregates of medium-sized polygonal cells that contained abundant vacuolated to clear cytoplasm. Some of the cytoplasmic vacuoles stained positive with oil red O. The stroma contained metaplastic trabeculae of woven and lamellar bone. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells expressed vimentin, pancytokeratin, and S-100 protein. Transmission electron microscopy corroborated the presence of intracytoplasmic vacuoles and demonstrated prominent intercellular junctional complexes and apically located microvilli. These findings are consistent with a lipid-rich variant of mesothelioma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a lipid-rich mesothelioma in a dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18776107/