Pituitary Metastasis of Pancreatic Origin in a Dog Presenting with Acute-Onset Blindness

Characterization of 22 Canine Pancreatic Carcinomas and Review of Literature

Pancreatic carcinomas are rare in dogs and clinical signs are mostly non-specific. The literature on clinically and pathologically characterized canine exocrine pancreatic tumours is limited to 76 cases reported since 1963. This retrospective study analysed formalin-fixed samples of pancreatic carcinomas from 22 dogs, obtained during elective exploratory surgery (n = 16) or if the dog was humanely destroyed (n = 6). Tumours were diagnosed according to the World Health Organization classification of tumours of the pancreas of domestic animals. In seven cases, blood samples taken during or shortly before surgery were analysed for concentrations of alpha-amylase, 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6'-methylresorufin) ester lipase (DGGR lipase), C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) and canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI). Neutrophil and lymphocyte numbers were determined as part of a complete blood count. Clinical signs were non-specific and included vomiting, inappetence and diarrhoea. Acinar carcinomas were most common (19/22) and observed growth patterns included: solid (n = 14), acinar (n = 5), clear cell (n = 3), mucinous (n = 2), trabecular (n = 1) or rosette-like (n = 1), occurring as a single pattern or in combination. Ductal carcinomas were identified in three cases. Pancreatitis was a common additional histological finding; five dogs had mild and nine dogs had severe pancreatitis. cPLI, DGGR lipase, cTLI and CRP were elevated in 5/5 acinar carcinomas. All liver enzymes were elevated in three of these five animals and ALP was increased in 4/5 dogs. Two dogs with ductal pancreatic carcinomas showed normal cPLI concentrations. One had increased CRP, liver enzymes and leucocytosis with neutrophilia, the other had elevated DGGR lipase and cTLI concentrations. Clinical findings in canine pancreatic carcinomas were non-specific and simultaneous inflammation can mask the detection of the underlying neoplasm in clinical examination and laboratory testing.

Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of brain tumors in dogs

A great deal of information is now available regarding the range of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of many primary and secondary brain tumors from dogs. In this review, these canine neoplasms are grouped into meningeal masses, ventricular masses, intra-axial enhancing lesions, intra-axial mildly to non-enhancing lesions, and multifocal lesions. For each of these patterns, the major and sporadic neoplastic differential diagnoses are provided, and guidance on how to rank differential diagnoses for each individual patient is presented. The implication of MRI features such as contrast-enhancement, signal intensities and location is discussed. However, the information garnered from MRI must be correlated with all available clinical information and with epidemiological data before creating a differential diagnosis.

A comparison of clinical, magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings in dogs with gliomatosis cerebri, focusing on cases with minimal magnetic resonance imaging changes(‡)

The primary study objective was to determine whether clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can underestimate canine gliomatosis cerebri (GC); we also investigated immunohistochemical features. Seven dogs with GC were studied; four recruited specifically because of minimal MRI changes. Neuroanatomic localization and the distribution of MRI, gross and sub-gross lesions were compared with the actual histological distribution of neoplastic cells. In six cases, clinical examination predicted focal disease and MRI demonstrated a single lesion or appeared normal. Neoplastic cells infiltrated many regions deemed normal by clinical examination and MRI, and were Olig2-positive and glial fibrillary acid protein-negative. Four dogs had concurrent gliomas. GC is a differential diagnosis for dogs with focal neurological deficits and a normal MRI or a focal MRI lesion. Canine GC is probably mainly oligodendrocytic. Type II GC, a solid glioma accompanying diffuse central nervous system neoplastic infiltration, occurs in dogs as in people.