title: An expansile secondary hypophyseal mastocytoma in a dog.
abstract: A 5-year-old mixed breed dog was presented with a history of depression and anorexia. Physical examination revealed a pharyngeal tumour and a neurological examination indicated the presence of a possible space-occupying lesion in the brain. Investigative procedures included a bloodsmear, impression smears and cytology of the pharyngeal tumour, haematology, chemical pathology, faecal analysis, urinalysis, electrocardiography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, hormone assays and a computerised axial tomography scan. Results of these investigations revealed a round cell tumour in the pharynx, hypergammaglobulinaemia (34 g l-1), azotaemia (urea 8.6 mmol l-1 and creatinine 170 mumol l-1), hypoalbuminaemia (20 g l-1), proteinuria, sinus bradycardia (heart rate 60 beats per min), increased concentration of protein in the CSF (1.1 g l-1), hypoadrenocorticism (base line cortisol less than 55 nmol l-1) and hypothyroidism (T4 less than 13 nmol l-1). The computerised axial tomography scan revealed a brain tumour in the region of the hypophysis. The dog was euthanased and a post mortem examination confirmed the presence of a pharyngeal tumour with apparent direct extension of the tumour into the brain. Both tumours were confirmed histologically as mastocytomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Eckersley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastianello
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Heerden
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D008297:Male; D012515:Mast-Cell Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*