Vascular pattern of a metastatic liver tumor in a dog:--a scanning electron microscopic study of resin casts.
Metastasis of a malignant mixed tumor occurring in the abdominal wall was found in the liver of a 15-year-old dog male. The vascular system of the metastatic lesion was examined by scanning electron microscopy using the resin cast technique. The existence of arterio-portal shunts was confirmed. The shunts arose from branches of the hepatic artery in retrograde or vertical direction and merged into the capillary plexus replacing the branches of the portal vein, forming the so-called thread and streaks vessel in the field of hepatic angiography. Vessels with the thread and streaks appearance histologically represented tumor emboli growing in the lumen of a large branch of the portal vein. There were capillaries running inside along the portal vein and forming a longitudinal dense network in the vein. Branches of the hepatic artery feeding the metastatic lesion were well developed and formed a coarse arterial network in their course. Tributaries of the hepatic vein from the lesion were also well developed.
Ninomiya
H
H
Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Inomata
T
T
Shida
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004283:Dog Diseases; D004285:Dogs; D004617:Embolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000556:secondary / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*