Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Case Report
Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 8(10): 1087-1090
Http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/2020/8.10.1087.1090
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Miriã R. de Oliveira1, Tatiany L. Silveira1, Rubens A. Carneiro2, Gleidice E. Lavalle2, Michele A. Rodrigues1, Geovanni D. Cassali1*

1Laboratory of Comparative Pathology, Department of General Pathology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais; 2Veterinary Hospital, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais.

Abstract | We report four cases of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) present in the bone marrow (BM) of canines with inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC). The diagnosis was made by cytological and histopathological analysis of BM biopsy and was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence methods using an anti-cytokeratin AE1/AE3 antibody. The cytologic evaluation followed by BM immunocytochemistry is a widely used method for the investigation of DTCs in women with breast neoplasms. Few studies have reported the presence of these cells in dogs, including IMC. The presence of these cells in the BM of women with breast tumors is related to tumor recurrence. This study demonstrates the presence of DTCs in the BM of dogs with IMC. Furthermore, the observation of the presence of micrometastasis at the time of diagnosis combined with cytokeratin immunocytochemical analysis could be a valuable prognostic tool in veterinary patients.

Keywords | Bone marrow, Disseminated tumor cells, Metastasis, Inflammatory carcinoma, Dog