title: Haemangiosarcoma of the interventricular septum in a dog.
abstract: Abstract
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year-old male neutered Labrador Retriever Afghan crossbred dog was examined after collapsing. The dog was recumbent, dyspnoeic and mildly tachypnoeic. There was a tachyarrhythmia (300 beats per minute) and subcutaneous oedema of the ventral neck and right forelimb.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dog had a sustained ventricular tachycardia originating in the right ventricle and on echocardiography a mass was identified in the interventricular septum. Due to the poor prognosis the owners agreed to euthanasia of the dog.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A reddish-grey mass was found in the interventricular septum and smaller red foci found scattered throughout the myocardium. There was a single, raised, splenic nodule with several smaller red foci within the splenic parenchyma. Hepatic congestion, pancreatic oedema, ascites and subcutaneous oedema of the right forelimb and neck were present. Sections of the splenic nodule, interventricular septal mass and both ventricular-free walls showed neoplastic mesenchymal cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haemangiosarcoma of the myocardium and spleen with right-sided congestive heart failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case report describes an atypical location for haemangiosarcoma. The investigation supports the use of echocardiography as a component of the protocol for staging haemangiosarcoma even in the absence of apericardial effusion. It also provides further evidence for the inclusion of intracardiac neoplasia as a differential diagnosis for dogs with unexplained cardiac arrhythmias.
authors: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand. d.j.thompson@massey.ac.nz
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Thompson
authors: N J
authors: NJ
authors: Cave
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Scrimgeour
authors: K G
authors: KG
authors: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male