title: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma - Sézary syndrome in a Boxer.
abstract: A 7-year-old male Boxer with a 3.5-year history of atopy and food hypersensitivity was presented with multiple poorly circumscribed nodules and maculae of the skin and tongue, and jaundiced mucosal membranes. Cytologic and histopathologic examination of the skin lesions revealed cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma. Cells were CD3(+) and CD8(+) in flow cytometry. The CBC showed a moderate leukocytosis with 16% atypical lymphocytes with irregularly cleaved nuclei. Flow cytometric phenotyping of peripheral blood showed an elevated proportion of the CD8(+) T-lymphocyte subpopulation, indicating a malignant population of T-cell origin, and the electropherogram of the PCR antigen receptor rearrangement produced a monoclonal peak for TCRγ. Liver enzyme activities were markedly increased and abdominal ultrasound examination showed increased echogenicity of the liver and enlarged abdominal lymph nodes. Fine-needle aspirates of the liver confirmed infiltration with lymphocytes exhibiting the same morphology as the cells detected in skin and peripheral blood. Treatment was induced with L-asparaginase, lomustine, and prednisone. Partial clinical remission of the skin and tongue lesions was achieved within 10 days, and hematologic abnormalities resolved. Despite further treatment with L-asparaginase and lomustine, the dog relapsed within one month and was euthanized. Presence of malignant lymphocytes in skin, peripheral blood, and liver indicate a rare variant of leukemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, equivalent of Sézary syndrome in a dog. This case report describes the use of flow cytometry as a complementary tool for lymphocyte characterization of skin lesions for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Rütgen
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Internal Medicine, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Flickinger
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Internal Medicine, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Birgitt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolfesberger
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Internal Medicine, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Litschauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuchs-Baumgartinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabine E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saalmüller
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwendenwein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Antigen receptor rearrangement; Sézary; canine; cutaneous lymphoma; flow cytometry