Long-term survival in a dog with primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor treated with toceranib phosphate

Abstract

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumors (PHNETs) are rare in dogs, and limited information exists about the treatment of these tumors. A 12-year-old castrated male French bulldog was presented to our clinic with gastrointestinal signs. Diagnostic tests revealed increased hepatic enzyme levels, a mass in the hepatic quadrate lobe, multiple intrahepatic nodules, and enlarged hepatic hilar lymph nodes. The liver mass was diagnosed cytologically as a malignant epithelial tumor suspected to be of neuroendocrine origin. The dog was treated with single-agent toceranib phosphate (TOC) and survived 25.1 months after the initial presentation. On necropsy, a liver mass was found and was subsequently diagnosed as a PHNET on histopathology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of long-term survival in a dog with PHNET treated with TOC.

Computed tomography findings in canine cholangiocellular carcinoma

“…24 Carcinoids show strongly enhanced lesion in the arterial phase. 25 The progressive enhancement of cholangiocellular carcinoma is different from those of other liver neoplasms reported in the past. Triple-phase CT may be useful for the differential diagnosis of cholangiocellular carcinoma in dogs.…”

“…Hepatic lymphoma shows hypoattenuation lesion compared to normal liver parenchyma in pre‐ and postcontrast triple phases 24 . Carcinoids show strongly enhanced lesion in the arterial phase 25 . The progressive enhancement of cholangiocellular carcinoma is different from those of other liver neoplasms reported in the past.…”

“…In this study, cholangiocellular carcinoma tended to show rim enhancement in the arterial phase and progressive enhancement. In veterinary medicine, CT features of liver neoplasms, including HCC, hepatocellular adenoma, hyperplasia, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma and carcinoid, are reported 6,8,9,24,25 . Briefly, HCC show heterogeneous enhancement with hyper‐, iso‐ or hypoattenuation compared to normal liver parenchyma in the arterial phase, and hypoattenuation in the portal and equilibrium phases 6,8 .…”

“…In veterinary medicine, CT features of liver neoplasms, including HCC, hepatocellular adenoma, hyperplasia, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma and carcinoid, are reported. 6,8,9,24,25 Briefly, HCC show heterogeneous enhancement with hyper-, iso-or hypoattenua-tion compared to normal liver parenchyma in the arterial phase, and hypoattenuation in the portal and equilibrium phases. 6,8 Hepatocellular adenoma shows diffuse enhancement in the arterial and portal phases.…”