RE: Masses on a Springer Spaniel

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 15:31:02 GMT

Good news

HISTOLOGY (Block A, 3 fragments): There is an area of moderate to marked epidermal hyperplasia with irregular acanthosis, associated with a focal area of neutrophilic inflammation and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis. The epidermis is focally ulcerated and eroded. Within the underlying superficial dermis, there is a moderate, mixed inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and moderate numbers of neutrophils accompanied by moderate fibroblastic activation. Inflammation and dermal fibroblast extends down in to the deeper parts of the dermis. Moderate numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells and low numbers of neutrophils are present clustered around hair follicles within the deep dermis.

COMMENT This confirms the presence of a focal inflammatory lesion, coupled with epidermal hyperplasia, a change which is suggestive of self trauma. The underlying cause of this inflammation is not evident from the sections examined here. It may be worth considering the possibility of multiple insect bites/stings which by this point are relatively chronic and may be pruritic (stimulating self trauma). I cannot rule out the possibility of a penetrating foreign body (eg grass seed) but I cannot see evidence to suggest a draining tract on the sections examined here.

Healing on it's own

Neil

RE: Masses on a Springer Spaniel

Clive Ansell — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 09:18:56 GMT

I had a similar presentation a while back which turned out to be an aggressively malignant cutaneous lymphoma diagnosed via fna. Pulmonary metastases evident on radiographs. Initial presentation to death (pts) was <3 months. Nasty.

RE: Masses on a Springer Spaniel

Bob Russell — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 08:27:17 GMT

I don't like odd masses on legs. They have a nasty habit of coming back as soft tissue sarcomas in my experience.

Typical place for FB reactions but they look nothing like it!

Look forward to seeing the histo results!