Canine mastocytoma: report of 8 cases diagnosed by fine needle cytology and clinicopathologic correlations.
BACKGROUND
Mast cell proliferations are commoner in dogs than in humans; mass forming lesions in the former are apt to fine needle sampling and the obtained cytopathological picture might be informing to enhance recognition of similar proliferations in humans.


METHODS
Clinical and cytopathologic data were collected from 8 cases of canine mastocytomas diagnosed by fine needle cytology. The cytopathologic presentation was correlated with the individual therapy performed and with the clinical stage. In all cases the cytopathological diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination of the excised mass, by necropsy or by response to therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
There are marked similarities between canine and human mastocytomas, despite possible differences in the clinical course of the disease in both species. Canine mastocytomas may hence be used as an animal model of a human disease and, as such, familiarity with their cytologic presentation may be useful for recognizing mast cell proliferations in humans.
Fulciniti
Franco
F
Section of Cytodiagnosis, National Tumor Institute "Fondazione G. Pascale," Naples, Italy. franco.fulciniti@gmail.com
Di Mattia
Diana
D
Curcio
Maria Pia
MP
Bove
Patrizia
P
Rota
Anna Maria
AM
Botti
Gerardo
G
D000818:Animals; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D034801:Mastocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*