Comparative morphometric analysis of recurrent and nonrecurrent canine basal cell carcinomas: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Most reports of canine basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) focus on morphologic appearance rather than biologic behavior. Rare recurrences and no metastases have been reported in dogs. Quantitative nuclear morphometry may be useful in predicting tumor recurrence.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to compare quantitative nuclear parameters of canine BCCs that did not recur within 60 weeks of excision with those that recurred.


METHODS
Cytologic specimens obtained from spontaneous BCCs from 11 dogs were analyzed by computerized nuclear morphometry. The dogs were monitored by their owners over a period of 60 weeks to detect local recurrence of the tumor; recurrent tumors were confirmed histologically. For each initial tumor specimen, nuclei of at least 100 neoplastic cells were measured by 2 independent observers, and mean nuclear area (MNA), mean nuclear perimeter (MNP), and mean nuclear diameter (MND) were calculated.


RESULTS
Six nonrecurrent and 5 recurrent tumors were analyzed. Neoplastic cells from BCCs that subsequently recurred had higher MNA (102.41 +/- 4.57 microm(2)), MNP (36.27 +/- 0.61 microm), and MND (11.21 +/- 0.27 microm) than cells from nonrecurrent BCCs (MNA 87.66 +/- 4.79 microm(2), MNP 33.51 +/- 0.78 microm, MND 10.36 +/- 0.29 microm) (P<.001; Mann-Whitney U-test).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these preliminary results, nuclear morphometry may be a useful tool to predict local recurrence of BCCs in dogs.
Simeonov
Radostin
R
Department of General and Clinical Pathology of Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. rsimeonov@uni-sz.bg
Simeonova
Galina
G
D000818:Animals; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000662:veterinary*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*