Clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of a primary hemangiosarcoma in a pinscher dog

ABSTRACT

Background: Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a malignant tumor that arises from the vascular endothelium affecting more often dogs than other species as cats, cows and horses. It comprises approximately 2% of all tumors in dogs. The most common primary site for the HSA in dogs is the spleen, and other locations include the right atrium, pericardium, liver and prostate. Other authors have reported this tumor in lungs, kidney, oral cavity, muscle, bone, urinary bladder, left ventricle, tongue and retroperitoneum. Due to the importance of the HSA in canine species, the aim of this study was to describe the clinical and pathological findings, besides therapeutic protocol in an unusual case of HSA. Case A six-year-old male pinscher was referred to the veterinary hospital with a history of cyanosis and choking. The animal was submitted to radiographic examination in lateral cervical view, which identified the presence of a mass of 1.2 cm in diameter near the pharynx. In order to evaluate the oral cavity, general anesthesia was performed, and it was possible to see a soft, rosy, circumscribed and vascularized lump in pharyngeal region. Due to suspicion of neoplasm, excisional biopsy without surgical margin was performed. The histopathological exam diagnosed hemangiosarcoma. Immunohistochemistry against vimentin, factor VIII, VEGF and Ki67 was performed and confirmed diagnosis of low grade [...]