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Ten dogs with primary ( n = 8) and metastatic ( n = 2) brain tumours were studied in an attempt to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of the clinical signs noticed, seizures (seven of 10), behavioural abnormalities and cognition dysfunction (seven of 10), compulsive walking and circling (six of 10), sensorimotor (five of 10) and neuro-opthalmological (two of 10) dysfunction were the most common. In all 10 animals that finally died of the disease or were killed, the histopathological diagnosis that followed necropsy was taken as a golden standard in the CT or MRI prediction of the histological type of brain neoplasms. In every instance, tumour detection, morphology and histological differentiation were possible with the aid of either CT (seven of 10) or MRI (three of 10) imaging especially after contrast enhancement. Only one CT-evaluated dog, diagnosed as meningioma, was found to be astrocytoma on histopathology. Interestingly, a rare case of cerebellar medulloblastoma was correctly identified in MRI scans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) activity in the serum, long noticed in canine mammary tumours among other neoplasms, has not been yet associated with malignancy, osseous transformation of neoplastic tissue or histopathological typing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to correlate this biochemical abnormality with the above-mentioned parameters, in 79 adult to elderly female dogs with mammary neoplasms, without evidence of metastatic or any other disease. Histopathology disclosed that 64 (81%) of these neoplasms were malignant and 15 (19%) benign, belonging to various histological types. Radiology and histopathology revealed the presence of osseous tissue in 18 (22.8%) cases. The malignant neoplasms were subsequently allocated into group A including 46 (74.2%) of epithelial origin and group B with 16 (25.8%) neoplasms of both epithelial and mesenchymal origin (‘malignant mixed’ tumours). In addition, their benign counterparts were divided into group C (adenomas, fibroadenomas) and group D (benign mixed tumours) that included seven (46.7%) and eight (53.3%) tumours, respectively. Almost 55% of the dogs with malignant and 47% with benign tumours had increased serum-TALP activity. However, no significant difference in serum-TALP activity was found between the dogs with malignant (mean ± SE: 243.7 ± 37.4 U/l) and benign (167.9 ± 38.4 U/l) neoplasms, with (238.9 ± 45.3 U/l) and without (226.5 ± 38.3 U/l) osseous transformation, with (298.5 ± 85.6 U/l) or without (201.2 ± 30.5 U/l) myoepithelial cell proliferation and with different tumour size (T1/T2: 175.1 ± 34.9 and T3: 254.5 ± 42.5 U/l). In histopathological typing, the only difference noticed involved the malignant neoplasms of group A (190.5 ± 25.5 U/l) compared with group B (378 ± 124.6 U/l) dogs. The higher increase of serum-TALP activity in ‘malignant mixed’ tumours could not be attributed to osseous transformation or new ALP isoenzyme production by myoepithelial cells. Increased serum-TALP activity is of no apparent diagnostic (as to tumour type) or prognostic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survival time in a group of eight bitches with malignant mammary tumours given adjuvant post-operative chemotherapy was compared with survival in another group of eight bitches with mammary cancer which were treated by surgical excision alone. The same surgical procedure was used in both groups. All bitches had stage III disease according to the World Health Organization clinical staging system. Histologically, 10 of the bitches had complex carcinomas (carcinomatous mixed tumours), the remaining six bitches had carcinosarcomas. The chemotherapeutic protocol used was a combination of 5-fluorouracil (150 mg/m2 of body surface area) and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/m2) given on the same day, intravenously, every week for four consecutive weeks. Chemotherapy was started one week post-surgery. Selected haematological parameters (packed cell volume, white blood cell count, platelet count and differential white blood cell count) and serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) were measured before and during chemotherapy. Survival analysis indicated that the chemotherapeutic regimen had a positive influence on the disease-free interval and the survival time of the eight bitches (P < 0.05). Although leucocyte numbers were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) during chemotherapy, the mean leucocyte counts remained within normal limits. Temporary leukopenia was noted only in one bitch. Packed cell volume and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly (P < 0.05) but within normal limits. Creatinine was also increased significantly (P < 0.01) but the mean creatinine concentrations were within normal limits, although in half of the bitches the concentrations occasionally rose above normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary A case of a canine large cell type T-cell lymphoma, with features of high-grade malignancy is described. The tumour was found confined in the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses of a crossbred German Shepherd dog. Histological examination revealed the features of a highly malignant large cell lymphoma. Ultrastructurally, the lymphoid tumour cells bore cytoplasmic protrusions that interdigitated tightly. From a panel of tumour markers used, the neoplastic cells were stained only for vimentin. Immunophenotyping of the tumour cells by means of CD3, CD79, κ-light chains and λ-light chains detection was undertaken. The tumour stained only for CD3 and was classified as T-cell lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of suckling lambs in Greece with retarded growth attributed to the presence of lung pyogranulomas secondary to tail docking. It notes the sheep flock which had reduced growth rate despite the normal appetite. It describes the examinations performed on three lambs, including postmortem and histological examination. It is implied, based on the findings, that tail docking wound infections caused the formation of lung pyogranulomas, resulting to retarded growth.