Renal nephroblastoma in a 10‐month‐old boxer

Abstract

A 10-month-old male entire Boxer dog was presented for weight loss and abdominal distension with a large mass palpable within the abdomen. A unilateral nephrectomy was performed for a large renal nephroblastoma (30-cm diameter). The nephroblastoma was suspected stage I, with favourable histology (human Wilms tumour grading). No adjunctive chemotherapy was administered. The dog remains clinically well 27 months postnephrectomy. Renal nephroblastomas are rare canine neoplasms and reported survival time is variable. This case and other recent reports suggest that mean survival time may be longer than previously thought. Nephroblastomas should be considered as a differential in young dogs presenting with clinical signs of an abdominal space-occupying lesion. The absence of azotaemia on a biochemical profile does not preclude significant renal pathology.

A case of rapid canine nephroblastoma presumed metastasis documented with advanced imaging

“…A literature review identified 21 case reports and one retrospective study evaluating five reported cases (Table 2). [1][2][3][4][5]7,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] In the literature, variable tumour biological features have been reported. Historically, survival times have been very poor, with the survival time ranging 0-6 months in the 2006 retrospective study.…”

“…Adjunctive chemotherapy after surgery is generally considered beneficial in patients with nephroblastoma. 3,5,6,8,24 In people, renal nephroblastoma is treated by nephrectomy, unless it has bilateral involvement or evidence of metastasis. 9 Utilising chemotherapy, with or without radiation therapy as adjunctive therapy, depends on the tumour stage.…”

“…1,7 In both veterinary and human medicine, nephrectomy, with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, is the treatment of choice for unilateral renal nephroblastoma. 3,5,6,8 This case report describes a dog presenting with a single abdominal mass that, following complete surgical excision, re-presented 86 days later with massive presumed metastases; providing further evidence of the metastatic potential of this uncommon neoplasm. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to display the rapid and massive metastasis of a canine nephroblastoma through advanced imaging.…”

“…1,3 Nephroblastomas account for 6% of canine primary renal tumours. 4,5 There is no apparent breed or sex predilection; most affected dogs are less than 1-year old (but can occur at any age); and most tumours are malignant. 6 German shepherd dogs and labrador retrievers are overrepresented for canine spinal cord nephroblastoma.…”

“…Reported survival times are varied, ranging from 12 days to 33 months 1,7 . In both veterinary and human medicine, nephrectomy, with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, is the treatment of choice for unilateral renal nephroblastoma 3,5,6,8 …”