Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with lung artery tumor causing fainting and weight loss
By Callanan, J J et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2000·Department of Veterinary Pathology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Primary pulmonary artery leiomyosarcoma in an adult dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female English Setter was brought to the vet because she was fainting, losing weight, and had low red blood cell counts. During the exam, the vet found a heart murmur and an ultrasound showed a mass on the heart valve. Unfortunately, after the dog passed away, a thorough examination revealed that the mass was a type of cancer called primary pulmonary artery leiomyosarcoma, which had spread to her lungs. This aggressive tumor is rare and can cause serious health issues, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment for heart-related symptoms in dogs.
People also search for: dog fainting and weight loss · English Setter heart murmur · dog lung cancer symptoms
Abstract
A 7-year-old neutered female English Setter presented with syncope, anemia, and weight loss. Clinical examination revealed a systolic murmur and echocardiography demonstrated a mass on the pulmonic valve. Postmortem examination confirmed the presence of a pulmonic valve mass that extended along the pulmonary trunk and into the left pulmonary artery. Multiple pale nodules were observed in the right lung. Microscopic examinations of the pulmonary artery mass and the lung nodules revealed a pleomorphic population of spindle cells often arranged in broad bands containing strap-like nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm devoid of cross striations. The neoplastic cells expressed vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin but did not express desmin, CD31, factor VIII, or S100. The presentation, histological features, immunocytochemical profiles, and behavior of this tumor were indicative of a primary pulmonary artery leiomyosarcoma with lung metastasis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11105958/