Doxorubicin chemotherapy for presumptive cardiac hemangiosarcoma in dogs†

Sixty‐four dogs were treated with single‐agent doxorubicin (DOX) for presumptive cardiac hemangiosarcoma (cHSA). The objective response rate (CR + PR) was 41%, and the biologic response rate (CR + PR + SD), or clinical benefit, was 68%. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) for treated dogs was 66 days. The median survival time (MST) for this group was 116 days and was significantly improved compared to a MST of 12 days for untreated control dogs (P = 0.0001). Biologic response was significantly associated with improved PFS (P < 0.0001) and OS (P < 0.0001). Univariate analysis identified larger tumour size as a variable negatively associated with PFS. The high rate of clinical benefit and improved MST suggest that DOX has activity in canine cHSA.     

Feline visceral hemangiosarcoma

BACKGROUND: Feline visceral hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an uncommon tumor, and the clinical progression and outcome are rarely reported. HYPOTHESIS: The prognosis of feline visceral HSA is poor because of severe clinical signs, anemia, and a high rate of metastasis. ANIMALS: The medical records of 26 client-owned cats with visceral HSA were reviewed. METHODS: Multi-institutional retrospective study. RESULTS: The most common historical findings and clinical signs included lethargy, anorexia, respiratory difficulty, collapse, and vocalizing. Eighty-two percent of cats were anemic, and aspartate transaminase was increased in 53% of the study population. Metastatic lung disease was noted in 33% of affected cats. In 75% of the cats, abdominal ultrasonography identified a specific location of HSA. However, ultrasound identification of all multifocal lesions was successful only in 3/9 cats (33%). Tumor location was identified in the following organs: liver (35%), small intestine (31%), large intestine (31%), abdominal lymph node (31%), mesentery (27%), spleen (23%), lung (19%), omentum (12%), brain (8%), pancreas (8%), and diaphragm (8%). Multifocal HSA was noted in 77% of cats. Three cats received adjuvant chemotherapy (doxorubicin). Seventy-one percent of euthanized cats were euthanized within 1 day of diagnosis. The median survival time of the remaining cats (n = 6) was 77 days (range, 23-296 days). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Feline visceral HSA is most often multifocal at the time of diagnosis. The prognosis appears poor, and the number of cats receiving chemotherapy is low.     

Cardiac hemangiosarcoma in a dog

The case of a 11 year-old mix breed dog is being described. It initially presented for watery diarrhea and inappetence. During the diagnostic workup, the dog developed a sustained ventricular tachycardia. Echocardiography showed a mass extending from the wall of the right ventricle which filled up the ventricle almost completely. Histopathologic examination of the mass after euthanasia of the dog revealed a hemangiosarcoma.     

Corneal hemangiosarcoma in a cat

A 10 year-old castrated male Domestic Short-hair cat with a history of chronic bilateral keratitis was referred for assessment of a red, elevated mass involving the left cornea. The rapid growth of the mass, over a month period in combination with pronounced vascularization and invasion of the corneal surface suggested an aggressive inflammatory or neoplastic process. Following keratectomy, the lesion was diagnosed histopathologically as a hemangiosarcoma. The tumor recurred locally within 3 weeks and enucleation was performed. Histopathologic examination of the globe confirmed the diagnosis and did not reveal infiltration of the limbus and conjunctiva. No signs of local recurrence or metastatic disease have been observed 18 months following enucleation. To the authors' knowledge this is the first case of primary corneal hemangiosarcoma described in the feline species.     

Disseminated hemangiosarcoma in a horse

A 6.5-year-old horse with a history of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage was admitted because of acute onset of epistaxis, dyspnea, high respiratory rate, pale mucous membranes, and dark feces. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of a bleeding disorder, and the horse's anemia was considered to be secondary to pulmonary hemorrhage. The cause of the hemorrhage was not found on thoracic sonograms or from cytologic examination of transtracheal aspirates. Despite supportive care, the horse's health deteriorated, and it was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed blood in the thoracic and peritoneal cavities and reddish black masses in many tissues. Histologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma. Hemangiosarcoma is a rare tumor in horses; however, as this case demonstrates, it can cause pulmonary hemorrhage and respiratory distress and may be difficult to diagnose before death.     

Intranasal hemangiosarcoma in a dog

Magnetic resonance (MR) was conducted for an 8-year-old, intact male Spitz with sneezing, serous discharge and epistaxis from the left nasal cavity. MR imaging showed a nasal cavity-occupied mass of iso-intensity on T1WI , high-intensity on T2WI and markedly enhanced on contrast-enhanced T1WI at parts of rostal to medial ocular angle in the left cavity. After Surgery and intraoperative radiation, the mass was diagnosed intranasal hemangiosarcoma by histopathology. Although the dog showed the finding, which suggested recurrence after the treatment ending, about 30 months later, it maintained good conditions without evidence of metastasis.     

Disseminated hemangiosarcoma in a cow

An antemortem diagnosis of disseminated hemangiosarcoma with extensive hepatic and splenic involvement was made in a 9-year-old cow evaluated for lethargy, weight loss, regenerative anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver enzymes. This is the first report of hemangiosarcoma in a cow with a suspected primary location of the liver and/or spleen.     

Primary peri-aortic hemangiosarcoma in a dog

A 10-year-old intact male Norwich terrier dog was evaluated for progressive, intermittent increased respiratory effort. Thoracic radiographs, ultrasonography, and computed tomography were used to identify a caudodorsal thoracic extrapulmonary mass and the presence of pulmonary metastasis. Blood transfusion and stabilization measures were not successful and the patient died. Necropsy confirmed the origin of the mass to be the adventitial layer of the aorta and determined it to be hemangiosarcoma. This is a rare site for the primary lesion.     

Mast cells in canine cutaneous hemangioma,hemangiosarcoma and mammary tumors

Mast cell count (MCC) in 45 dogs with cutaneous hemangioma (HA, n = 12), hemangiosarcoma (HSA, n = 12), mammary adenoma (AD, n = 9) and mammary adenocarcinoma (AC, n = 12) was made using Toluidine blue stained sections. Antibodies against endothelial cell markers, Factor VIII and VEGF were used to visualize and determine the hot spot micro-vessel density (MVD). Total MCC and MCC along the invasive edges were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in canine mammary AC than in AD. The total MCC did not significantly differ (p > 0.05), in HSAs (8.6 ± 3.3) than in HAs (5.5 ± 2.8). There is a positive correlation (r = 0.14) between the hot spot MCC and MVD in mammary AC, although not significant (p = 0.3172), indicating that mast cells are associated with angiogenesis in canine mammary AC. This study suggests that mast cells may play an important role in neovascularization of canine cutaneous vascular and mammary neoplasms. Detailed studies encompassing correlation of MCC and MVD with clinical outcomes and prognosis in these neoplasms are recommended.     

Epithelioid variant of hemangioma and hemangiosarcoma in the dog, horse, and cow

Epithelioid hemangiomas, hemangioendotheliomas, and angiosarcomas are well recognized histologic variants of endothelial tumors in humans that in the past have been confused with neoplasms of epithelial or histiocytic origin. We describe 12 epithelioid endothelial vascular tumors in 8 dogs, 3 horses, and 1 cow that share microscopic features with these tumors in humans. Ten tumors were located within the dermis and subcutis, 1 in the gastrocnemius tendon, and 1 in the skeletal muscle of the thigh. Key histologic features were the plump, epithelioid appearance of neoplastic endothelial cells and occasional cytoplasmic vacuolation, which rarely contained a single erythrocyte. Patterns of epithelioid endothelial cell growth ranged from conventional vasoformative structures to glandlike acini and short ducts to solid, sheetlike arrangements. All tumors were positive for endothelial markers: 12/12 (100%) were positive for von Willebrand factor with variable intensity and distribution and 9/9 (100%) were positive for CD31. All 12 were negative for cytokeratin. We subdivided these tumors into epithelioid hemangiomas (n = 3) and hemangiosarcomas (n = 9) based on conventional morphologic criteria, growth pattern (invasive or not), and metastasis (known in 1 case at the time of biopsy). Additional follow-up information obtained by a written questionnaire was available for 6/12 (50%) animals and revealed local recurrence in 3 animals (1 epithelioid hemangioma and 2 epithelioid hemangiosarcoma) and regional metastasis in 3 animals (all epithelioid hemangiosarcomas). This series represents a novel group of vascular tumors in domestic animals of which there are only 3 previous cases reported in the veterinary literature.     

Pulmonary intravascular hemangiosarcoma in a cat

A 9-year-old, castrated male Japanese domestic cat presented with a complaint of exertional dyspnea. Based on the radiographic findings, presumptive diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia or primary diffuse pulmonary neoplasia in the right middle lobe was made. Histologically, the pulmonary lesion was characterized by diffuse thickening of alveolar wall with the proliferation of apparently atypical irregular-shaped cells. Immunohistochemical staining using anti-human factor VIII-related antigen antiserum showed positive reaction in the cytoplasm of the atypical cells. According to the findings, the lesion was diagnosed as pulmonary intravascular hemangiosarcoma.     

Primary mandibular hemangiosarcoma in a bull

Disseminated pulmonary and subcutaneous-muscular hemangiosarcoma at the left hemimandible was diagnosed postmortem in a 2-year-old Jersey bull that presented with a 7-day history of facial swelling from suspected traumatic injury. Hemangiosarcoma is uncommon in cattle and has never been reported to affect the bones of the skull.     

Primary vertebral hemangiosarcoma in a dog

A 7-year-old spayed Cocker Spaniel was evaluated for recurrent hind limb paraplegia. Radiography and myelography revealed a compression fracture of T-9 secondary to a lytic process. Findings at necropsy and histologic and immunohistochemical examinations revealed 3 sites of hemangiosarcoma in each of the bodies of T-9 to T-11. Primary vertebral hemangiosarcoma is rare, and in this dog may have represented a multicentric occurrence or a primary neoplasm with adjacent metastatic foci.