Evaluation of Mast Cells in Dermal versus Subcutaneous Hemangiomas and Hemangiosarcomas in Dogs

Abstract

This study investigated the role of mast cells in canine cutaneous vascular tumors, and is the first such study to distinguish between tumors arising in the dermis versus the subcutis. Mast cell numbers in canine cutaneous hemangiomas (HA) and hemangiosarcomas (HSA) were evaluated to identify a relationship between mast cells, tumor type (HA, HSA), histologic location (dermis, subcutis) and tumor recurrence. One hundred and sixty-seven biopsies from 148 dogs were evaluated. Using only one biopsy from each dog, mast cell counts (MCC) for each tumor (n = 148) were obtained by averaging the number of mast cells counted in ten 400× fields. A significant difference in mean MCC was found only between tumor types, with HA having more mast cells than HSA (4.2 ± 4.2 vs. 2.2 ± 2.6; p < 0.001). No significant difference in mean MCC existed between tumors that recurred and those that did not. There was no difference in recurrence rate between tumor type or histologic location. Our results indicate that benign HA contain more mast cells than malignant endothelial cell tumors, regardless of histologic location; whether this is a cause or effect relationship remains to be determined.

Surgical Management of Cutaneous Haemangioma in a Non-Descript Dog: A Case Report

“…In dogs generally solar radiation is a contributing factor in the development of several skin neoplasms including haemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas (Gross et al, 2005). Barber et al, (2012) reported histologically the hemangioma was appearing well circumscribed masses composed of discrete vascular structure lined by single layer of flattened endothelial cells arranged on fine collagenous septa and filled by erythrocytes which is similar to our histological findings. Lather et al, (2015) reported haemangioma on left flank abdominal region while Kim et al, (2005) reported on right dorsal antebrachium and on the right shoulder in mixed breed spayed female which removed surgically while Balachandran et al, (2014) reported cavernous haemangioma in three year old Rajpalatyam dog at chest region and removed surgically.…”