Cutaneous seeding of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder after placement of a subcutaneous ureteral bypass device in a dog with bilateral ureteral obstruction

Abstract

CASE DESCRIPTION A 12-year-old spayed female Jack Russell Terrier was presented with pollakiuria and stranguria. CLINICAL FINDINGS Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder trigone and urethra was diagnosed via CT, cystoscopic, and histologic examinations. Azotemia developed 2 weeks following diagnosis, secondary to bilateral ureteral obstruction. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Percutaneous antegrade ureteral stenting was unsuccessful; therefore, a subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) device with 2 nephrostomy and 1 cystostomy catheters was surgically placed. Two months following placement of the SUB device, the dog developed a firm, multilobulated cutaneous mass at the site of the subcutaneous access port of the SUB device. Results of cytologic examination of cells aspirated from the mass were consistent with TCC. Within 1 month of confirmation of TCC of the cutaneous mass, the mass was ulcerated and infected, and the dog was euthanized because of signs of pain and perceived poor quality of life. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Seeding of neoplastic cells is a known complication of needle aspiration or biopsy or surgery in people and dogs with carcinomas. The occurrence of TCC at the SUB port site suggested caution with the placement of a SUB device in dogs with obstructive TCC.

Potential Seeding From Fine-Needle Aspiration of an Axial Osteosarcoma: A Case Report

“…This theory is supported by the findings from a case report where seeding was detected 2 weeks after obtaining an FNA sample in a cat with a lung carcinoma (25). Needle tract seeding is a reported complication of FNA of carcinomas in small animals and in humans (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)25), but it has not been reported for sarcomas. The size of the needle used to obtain samples may play a role in the risk of seeding.…”

“…Collecting an FNA sample via ultrasound guidance has been described and may increase the ability of obtaining a diagnostic sample (11). While needle track seeding from carcinomas has been reported in dogs, cats, and humans (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19), to the authors' knowledge, seeding from an FNA of OSA has not previously been described before in the human or veterinary literature.…”