title: Vertebral polyostotic lymphoma in a young dog.
abstract: An unusual clinical presentation of lymphoma with vertebral involvement in a dog is reported. A 20-month-old intact female Golden Retriever presented with progressive paraparesis and anorexia. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile demonstrated pancytopenia and hypercalcemia. Ventral fusion of the lumbar vertebrae by new bony tissue deposition was evident on X-ray and CT scan. Fine needle aspiration revealed neoplastic lymphoid cells in lymph nodes and bone marrow. Histologically, vertebral bone and osteophytes, liver, bone marrow, kidney, and lymph nodes were diffusely infiltrated by neoplastic, lymphoid cells, with scant cytoplasm and round hyperchromatic nuclei. Polyostotic and medullary T-cell lymphoma with spondylosis was diagnosed. Lymphoma mainly affecting bone is uncommon in the dog. The present case differs from previously described polyostotic lymphomas in clinical signs of the disease, mainly attributable to spondylarthrosis. In addition, lymphomatous proliferation was associated with osteoproductive lesions of the vertebrae.
authors.affiliation: Histopathology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy. mvascellari@izsvenezie.it
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vascellari
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furlanello
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patron
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mutinelli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000662:veterinary; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*