ABSTRACT
A 10-year-old male neutered Persian cat was presented with an abdominal mass and history of weakness. Blood smear examination found marked elliptocytosis, and serum biochemical analysis revealed hypokalemia, hypochloremia, increased creatine kinase activity, and a high aldosterone concentration. Cytologic examination of the mass revealed neoplastic endocrine cells with moderate criteria of malignancy, favoring adrenocortical neoplasia. The adrenal mass was surgically excised and histologically characterized by lobules of mildly pleomorphic, polygonal neoplastic cells with moderate to abundant, occasionally granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm. Lobules were separated by fine fibrovascular trabeculae, and numerous cystic cavities containing amorphous eosinophilic material that stained positive with Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff were seen. Neoplastic cells were multifocally positive for cytochrome P450 aldosterone synthase. Based on clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical findings the present case was diagnosed as an aldosterone-producing adrenocortical carcinoma with myxoid differentiation. While this entity has not been reported in cats, myxoid differentiation of adrenocortical carcinomas has been found in other species and can pose a major diagnostic challenge on microscopic examination.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/veterinary , Adrenocortical Carcinoma/veterinary , Aldosterone/metabolism , Cat Diseases/pathology , Adrenal Cortex/metabolism , Adrenal Cortex/pathology , Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/pathology , Adrenocortical Carcinoma/diagnosis , Adrenocortical Carcinoma/pathology , Animals , Biopsy/veterinary , Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Cats , MaleABSTRACT
We report a 60-year-old adult case with a normocytic normochromic regenerative anemia discovered incidentally. The objectification of elliptocytosis accompanied by splenomegaly, a collagen myelofibrosis and the presence of the mutation JAK2V617F allowed the diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis with atypical initial presentation. The causes of elliptocytoses are discussed.
Subject(s)
Anemia/diagnosis , Elliptocytosis, Hereditary/diagnosis , Anemia/complications , Anemia/genetics , Elliptocytosis, Hereditary/complications , Elliptocytosis, Hereditary/genetics , Humans , Incidental Findings , Janus Kinase 2/genetics , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , Primary Myelofibrosis/complications , Primary Myelofibrosis/diagnosis , Primary Myelofibrosis/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To achieve consistency in poikilocytes grading in peripheral blood cell examinations, we made an image-based differential count (IDC) software to measure the degree of abnormalities in individual red blood cells (RBCs) and relative fractions of poikilocytes. METHODS: Thirty peripheral blood samples were analyzed. Smear slides were examined on a microscope with charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. To verify this program, we compared the IDC results with the results of manual differential counting (MDC). Relative fractions of schistocytes, echinocytes, and elliptocytes were measured by IDC and MDC. The error rate of IDC was measured by confirming the final processed images of IDC. Correlations of IDC and MDC results were compared using linear regression analysis and the time required for each test was measured. For presentation of the mathematical decision criteria of poikilocytes, IDC algorithms for recognizing schistocytes, echinocytes, and elliptocytes were made using simple geometrical or mathematical formulas. RESULTS: The error rate of IDC was 2.8%. For analysis of 1,000 RBCs, MDC took 7.3 minutes and IDC took 2.7 minutes. Linear regression coefficients were 0.776 (P<0.001) for schistocytes, 0.895 (P<0.001) for echinocytes, and 1.001 (P<0.001) for elliptocytes. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to define poikilocytes with geometrical or mathematical formulas using image analysis programs. The IDC program would be helpful for consistent grading of poikilocytes.