Mucinous Pleural Effusion in a Dog with a Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma and Carcinomatosis

Abstract

An 11 yr old castrated male greyhound presented to the Washington State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital (WSU VTH) for evaluation of a 4 day history of pleural effusion. The pleural effusion had a gelatinous appearance, suggestive of mucus, and was characterized cytologically as a pyogranulomatous exudate with some features suggestive of a carcinoma. Postmortem examination identified a pulmonary mass with evidence of carcinomatosis. Pulmonary papillary adenocarcinoma with carcinomatosis was the histologic diagnosis. Abundant mucin production was present, consistent with a mucinous pulmonary adenocarcinoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a mucinous pulmonary adenocarcinoma with mucus pleural effusion in a dog.

Canine bicavitary carcinomatosis with transient needle tract metastasis diagnosed by multiplex immunocytochemistry

“…7 While primary pulmonary neoplasms have been implicated in pleural carcinomatosis in human beings 8 , this has been rarely reported in dogs. 4 This case also presents an uncommon event of needle tract-associated spread of neoplastic cells. Needle tract metastasis is a concern associated with fine-needle aspiration.…”

“…Carcinomatosis is a condition in which disseminated neoplastic cells invade a body cavity, often resulting in effusion and distribution of metastatic nodules on visceral and parietal surfaces . In dogs, carcinomatosis has been described in the peritoneal, pleural, and cerebrospinal cavities . A variety of tumor types have been associated with carcinomatosis, with the most common neoplasms stemming from intra‐abdominal tumors of epithelial origin.…”

“…In human beings, the most common sites of the primary neoplasia are the ovary, colon, and stomach . While primary pulmonary neoplasms have been implicated in pleural carcinomatosis in human beings, this has been rarely reported in dogs …”

What is your diagnosis? Peritoneal effusion in a 7‐year‐old dog

“…Mucin‐rich effusions have rarely been described in animals 4,5 . Among differentials for a gelatinous ascites (pseudomyxoma peritonei), a mucin‐producing tumor should be included 6 .…”

Clinical, CT, and ultrasonographic features of canine and feline pleural and peritoneal carcinomatosis and sarcomatosis

“…1,2 Sarcomatosis describes a similar spread of mesenchymal tumors. 3 Carcinomatosis and sarcomatosis affecting the peritoneal 4,5 pleural, 6,7 and cerebrospinal cavities 8,9 have been reported in dogs and cats. Presence of carcinomatosis or sarcomatosis is generally associated with a poor prognosis 2 and has limited therapeutic options, including intracavitary or combination chemotherapy, which have little success.…”