Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic Sarcoma

TL;DR

A Dobermann dog with a rare liver tumor showed extended survival after intensive and metronomic chemotherapy, emphasizing the need for detailed diagnostics and treatment planning.

Contribution

This case report presents a rare canine hepatic myofibroblastic sarcoma with a prolonged survival time following a specific chemotherapy regimen.

Findings

The tumor was confirmed as myofibroblastic through histopathology and immunohistochemistry with specific marker positivity.

A combination of intensive and metronomic chemotherapy led to a survival time exceeding 690 days.

The case highlights the importance of comprehensive diagnostics for accurate classification and treatment of hepatic sarcomas.

Abstract

Hepatic sarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors in veterinary medicine. This case report describes a hepatic myofibroblastic sarcoma in a 5-year-old spayed female Dobermann presenting with abdominal enlargement and a large liver mass. The diagnosis was confirmed through histopathology and immunohistochemistry that revealed a myofibroblastic origin with positive markers including vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and muscular actin (HHF35). The dog was treated with doxorubicin-based intensive chemotherapy followed by a metronomic protocol, and achieved a survival time exceeding 690 days. This case underscores the value of comprehensive diagnostic approaches and highlights the need for further research to guide treatment of these rare tumors.

Hepatic sarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors in veterinary medicine, with limited reports in the literature. This case report describes a canine hepatic myofibroblastic sarcoma in a 5-year-old spayed female Dobermann. The dog presented with abdominal enlargement and was diagnosed with a large hepatic mass following comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, including blood tests, imaging, and histopathology. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the tumor’s myofibroblastic origin, characterized by positivity for markers such as vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and muscular actin (HHF35). Treatment involved a combination of intense-dose chemotherapy using doxorubicin and a subsequent metronomic chemotherapy protocol, which resulted in prolonged survival of over 690 days at the time this manuscript was written. This case highlights the importance of extensive diagnostic and immunohistochemical profiling in the accurate classification of and treatment planning for hepatic sarcomas, and emphasizes the role of advanced veterinary diagnostics in improving patient outcomes. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to enhance understanding of the biological behavior and optimal therapeutic strategies for such rare tumors.

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