Canine Hepatic Carcinoids

Abstract

Abstract. In 110 primary hepatic neoplasms in the dog, 15 carcinoids were diagnosed. Diffuse involvement of all liver lobes with severe hemorrhage and necrosis was seen in all cases. The neoplasms had three distinct histologic patterns: solid nests; cords or ribbons; and an alveolar pattern with rosettes. In all three groups there was fibrovascular stroma that was hyalinized, mineralized, and thick in some places. The neoplastic cells were relatively uniform, polygonal to spindle-shaped, with eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm and vesiculated nuclei. Mitotic activity varied among the three groups. Argyrophilia was seen in all specimens stained with modified Grimelius stain. Metastasis occurred in 14 of 15 dogs (93.3%); the peritoneal wall and adjoining lymph nodes were the most common sites.Carcinoid neoplasms originate from neuroectodermal tissue, or from amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) cells [4,22,341 [5, 8-10, 17, 22, 27,36,38, 41-46].Carcinoids are rare in animals, and are reported mostly in the gastrointestinal tract [ I , 13,19,21,471. In dogs, carcinoids have been reported in the intestines and lungs [6, 14, 29,401. Carcinoids of the hepatobiliary system are rare in man, and are located mostly in the gall bladder and extrahepatic bile ducts [3,12, 18,23, 371. There are few reports of carcinoids arising from the intrahepatic tissue; the source of these neoplasms is considered to be the intrahepatic bile ducts [2,3, 7, 111. Hepatic carcinoids have not been described in the dog; among domestic animals, one hepatic carcinoid has been recorded in a cow [35]. Materials and MethodsThe I10 primary hepatic neoplasms found in 12,245 canine necropsies were studied as described (301. Of these neoplasms. I5 were diagnosed by histologic and histochemical criteria as carcinoids.Formalin-fixed tissues were processed routinely, and sections 4 to 6 p n thick were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). mucicarmine. periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). and Congo red. Six specimens. two from each of the three histologic groups. were stained with modified Grimelius stain (Pathology Laboratory. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. New York) [201. ResultsFor age, sex and breed distribution see table I. The ages and sexes of 14 of the 15 dogs were available: 10 dogs were under 10 years old, three between 4 and 5, and seven between 6 and 10 years old; four dogs were older than 10 years. There was no sex or breed predilection.Clinical signs were recorded for 12 of the 15 dogs. Seven dogs had anorexia, six ascites, five weight loss, five polydypsia and polyuria, four jaundice, and four diarrhea. Melena and hematbchezia, hematuria and seizures also were seen. Hepatomegaly was not seen clinically in any of the dogs with carcinoid, and none of the clinical signs were specific for carcinoids.Laboratory findings are shown in table 11, and include high white blood cell counts in nine of ten dogs, low red blood cell counts in four of seven, low hemoglobin values in four of seven, and marked increases in serum alkaline ph...

A Poorly Differentiated Gastric Carcinoid in a Dog

“…Lesions in the liver were considered metastatic rather than primary because of the multifocal pattern. Previous reviews of hepatic carcinoids have reported only peritoneal and local lymph node metastasis, 11 not the extensive multiorgan metastasis observed in this case. LCA was included in the immunohistochemistry panel because the antemortem liver biopsy from this patient was diagnosed as lymphoma.…”

“…5 Previously, gastrointestinal carcinoids in dogs have been reported in the small intestine, colon, and liver. 2,5,10,11,14 This is the first report of a carcinoid arising in the stomach of a dog. The stomach was considered the primary tumor site because no other lesions were found in the remainder of the gastrointestinal tract.…”

Hepatoblastoma in a Dog.

“…As for primary hepatic tumors in dogs, hepatocellular carcinoma [11,23], cholangiocellular carcinoma [12] and hepatic carcinoid [13] have been reported in addition to HB [24]. We diagnosed the present case as HB based on morphological and immunohistochemical findings in comparison to those of other primary hepatic tumors (Table 1).…”

A Carcinoid Tumor in the Gallbladder of a Dog

“…2 In dogs, hepatic, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary carcinoids have been reported. [5][6][7] Intestinal carcinoids have also been documented in a horse and a cow. 2 In horses, three cases of maxillary sinus carcinoid tumors have been reported as well.…”