Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with large lump on front of neck and thyroid cancer diagnosis
By Fernandez, Nicole J et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2008·University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: What is your diagnosis? Ventral neck mass in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old male Labrador Retriever was brought in because he was lethargic and collapsed. The vet found a large mass in his neck near the thyroid gland, and tests suggested it was a type of cancer called thyroid carcinosarcoma, which is rare in dogs. Unfortunately, the dog passed away just two days later at home. This case highlights the importance of thorough testing to identify different types of cancer cells, which can affect treatment options.
People also search for: dog neck mass · Labrador Retriever cancer symptoms · thyroid cancer in dogs · dog lethargy and collapse · dog cancer diagnosis
Abstract
: A 14-year-old male Labrador Retriever was presented for lethargy and collapse. On physical examination, numerous abnormalities were found, including a large ventral neck mass (100 cm(3)) in the area of the thyroid gland. Fine-needle aspirates revealed 2 apparent populations of cells: one suspected to be a well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and the other consisting of large pleomorphic to spindloid cells suggestive of sarcoma. Two days later, the dog died at home. A full necropsy was not performed, but examination of the head and neck revealed a well-encapsulated mass adjacent to the cranial trachea and larynx. A section of the mass was evaluated histologically and a diagnosis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma was made. Immunohistochemical evaluation with antibodies to thyroglobulin, cytokeratin, and vimentin confirmed distinct populations of malignant epithelial and malignant mesenchymal cells, and the diagnosis was amended to thyroid carcinosarcoma. Thyroid carcinosarcoma is a rare neoplasm in dogs in which the cell type comprising the mesenchymal component can vary. Immunochemistry to demonstrate the 2 cell types may be necessary to differentiate thyroid carcinosarcoma from anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19055583/