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A 13-year-old spayed female Greyhound was referred to the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital oncology service for staging and treatment of a previously diagnosed round cell sarcoma in the left scapular region. The tumor cell population was described as consisting of large mononuclear cells, most consistent with immature lymphoid cells. On several occasions at the office of the referring veterinarian, abnormal lymphoid or plasmacytoid cells with discrete, reddish intracytoplasmic granules were seen during the CBC and in a buffy coat preparation. On presentation to NCSU, the dog was mildly underweight (21.7 kg) with a body condition score of 3/9 and partial weight-bearing left front limb lameness.On the day of presentation, CBC and serum biochemistry were performed. The CBC was normal except for mild lymphopenia (530 cells/L; reference range 800-3,500 cells/ L) and mild thrombocytosis (389,000 cells/L; reference range 181,000-350,000 cells/L). Lymphopenia was attributed to stress. Serum biochemistry panel also was normal except for mild hyperglycemia (130 mg/dL; reference range 60-125 mg/dL), which also was attributed to stress. Serum albumin concentration was 3.0 g/dL (reference range 2.6-4.5 g/dL), globulins were 2.7 g/dL (reference range 1.8-4.4 g/dL), and the A/G ratio was 1.11 (reference range 0.60-2.20). A voided urine sample also was collected for urinalysis. Abnormal findings included 3ϩ proteinuria with 4ϩ Bumin protein (sulfosalicylic acid precipitation), 2ϩ bilirubinuria, and 2ϩ blood, with a urine specific gravity of 1.070.A bone marrow aspiration biopsy sample of the left ilium was submitted for cytologic examination with the history of ''possible osteosarcoma or lymphosarcoma,'' and the pathologist assumed that the submission was for staging purposes. One slide (Fig 1) contained a focal region of marked plasmacytosis (Ͼ50% of intact cells), and other regions had variably increased (mild to moderate) numbers of plasma cells. Myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocytic cell lines were present in adequate numbers and showed orderly and appropriate maturation. The variably increased numbers of well-differentiated plasma cells and focal region of marked plasmacytosis were suspicious for plasma cell neoplasia, but additional diagnostic tests to rule out tick-borne infectious diseases were recommended. Serum titers for Ehrlicha canis, Bartonella vinsonii, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever and polymerase chain reaction analysis for Ehrlichia were negative. In addition to the bone marrow aspirate, abdominal ultrasonography and thoracic and scapular radiography were performed on the day of presentation. The ultrasound examination revealed no abnormalities. On radiographs, a lytic lesion was visible in the left scapular neck and glenoid cavity, with a surrounding area of sclerosis consistent with aggressive bone disease and probable bone tumor (Fig 2). Using fluoroscopy, a needle biopsy was taken. On hospital day 4, a whole body radionuclide bone scan was performed using 99m Tc (Fig 3)...

A 12-year-old neutered male Shar-Pei was presented to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital cardiology service with a 2-week history of coughing and a 2-day history of lethargy and anorexia. Pleural effusion and a mediastinal mass were detected with thoracic radiographs. Ten mL of fluid were removed via thoracocentesis, and cytologic examination of the fluid revealed marked eosinophilic inflammation and few atypical mast cells. Mast cell neoplasia was suspected. Aspirates of the mediastinal mass, abdominal lymph nodes, and bone marrow contained similar pleomorphic mast cells and increased numbers of eosinophils. The dog was diagnosed with systemic (visceral) mastocytosis, a rare form of neoplasia in dogs, and was euthanized. These tumors carry a poor to grave prognosis and the etiology is uncertain.

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A 4-year-old male neutered mixed breed dog (30 kg) was referred to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (NCSU-VTH) for evaluation of thrombocytopenia and epistaxis. Beginning 15 months before presentation, the dog had 3 episodes of unilateral epistaxis and thrombocytopenia (#50,000/mL). Signs resolved with prednisone in combination with doxycycline, vincristine, or both. One month before presentation, epistaxis recurred and became bilateral. The thrombocytopenia (112,000/mL) was less severe compared with previous episodes. Treatments included prednisone (2 mg/kg PO q24h), azathioprine (2 mg/kg PO q24h), vincristine (0.02 mg/kg IV once), and doxycycline (7 mg/kg PO q12h). Abnormalities on physical examination included mild hyperthermia (103.3uF), a 3/6 systolic left apical heart murmur, and hepatomegaly. The body condition was assessed at 7/9. The dog was panting, with morning respirations noted as either panting or tachypnea (50-60 breaths/min) during hospitalization. A single occurrence of unilateral epistaxis and overt hematuria was observed during hospitalization. Funduscopic examination and systemic blood pressure were normal. Abnormalities identified by CBC were moderate normocytic, normochromic anemia (red blood cell [RBC] count, 3.13 3 10 6 /mL; reference range 4.78-8.26 3 10 6 /mL; hematocrit [Hct] 21%; reference range 33-58%), thrombocytopenia (94,000/mL; reference range 181,000-350,000/mL), neutrophilia (15,840/mL; reference range 3,400-9,800/mL), and lymphopenia (165/mL; reference range 800-3,500/mL). The reticulocyte count was 1%, and 1 nucleated RBC was noted per 100 RBCs. Serum biochemical abnormalities were consistent with prior glucocorticoid administration and/or cholestasis and included increased serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) (4230 U/L; reference range 12-150 U/L), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) (192 U/L; reference range 0-10 U/L), and serum alanine aminotransferase (SALT) (299 U/L, reference range 5-105 U/L). Urine had a specific gravity of 1.008, increased protein (3+), and active sediment (.100 white blood cells [WBC]/high powered field [hpf]; .50 RBC/hpf, 2+ bacteria). Bacterial culture of the urine resulted in a heavy growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Prothrombin time, partial throm-boplastin time, fibrin degradation products, fibrinogen, and buccal mucosal bleeding time were normal. A Coombs' test was negative. Serologic tests were negative for antibodies against Ehrlichia canis, Rickettsia rick-ettsii, Bartonella vinsonii, Babesia canis, and Borrelia burgdorferi. Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and small adrenal glands were identified by means of ultrasound. The liver and spleen were sampled by ultrasound guided, fine-needle aspiration. Both specimens had cells that were consistent with malignant round-cell neoplasia, either lymphoma or histiocytic sarcoma. The liver also had moderate vacuolar hepatopathy. Thoracic radiographs revealed an alveolar pattern involving the left cranial lung lobe with concurrent shift of the mediastinum (Figure 1A). Arterial blood ...