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Management of stage III benign mammary gland tumor in a 10-year-old female dog

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Abstract

A 10-year-old female German shepherd dog was presented with a large pendulous mass which was located in the area of the right inguinal mammary gland extending from M5–M2 with no marked lymphadenomegaly. The mass has progressively increased in size without regression over a period of 1 year. Radiography revealed a radiodense mass of tissue with no apparent metastasis to regional lymph nodes, no pulmonary metastases, and no abdominal viscera metastases. The tumor was staged as T3N1M0 after diagnostic clinical and radiological examinations based on WHO standards for tumor stage. Unilateral radical mastectomy with total mammary gland extirpation was performed and all glands from M5 to M1 on the right side were removed. The extirpated mass was 24 × 8 cm in size, weighed 2.25 kg, and was very firm. The tumor was lobular and was surrounded with thick band of fibrous capsule. Histology revealed numerous chondroblasts in the lacunae with moderate basophilic cytoplasm. These cells were monomorphic and pleomorphic (> 75% pleomorphic). There was anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. A good short-term clinical outcome was observed after surgical treatment and chemotherapy with tamoxifen and prednisolone for 21 days. Following clinical examinations, no pulmonary metastasis or recurrence of tumoral tissues was observed during 1-year post-surgery. Also, because the pathology of mammary gland tumors in dogs is similar to that of humans, it is strongly advocated that dogs are considered as natural animal model of human breast cancer research especially for testing new drugs and development of prophylactic and therapeutic measures.

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Funding

The authors received no external funds for the project. The study was fully funded by authors’ financial contribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

    Edwin Aihanuwa Uwagie-Ero

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Clifford Nwabugwu Abiaezute

  3. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Joseph Ikokide

  4. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria

    Ibrahim Shuaibu

  5. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

    Mosimabale Pius Mosinimu & Lydia Amos

Authors
  1. Edwin Aihanuwa Uwagie-Ero
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  2. Clifford Nwabugwu Abiaezute
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  3. Joseph Ikokide
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  4. Ibrahim Shuaibu
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  5. Mosimabale Pius Mosinimu
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  6. Lydia Amos
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Correspondence to Edwin Aihanuwa Uwagie-Ero.

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Consent/ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. The conduct of experiments were approved and in accordance with the approved research guidelines on animal use of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Benin, Benin City, and the Veterinary Establishment Regulatory Committee of the Delta State Government, Nigeria, where the animal study was carried out, the animal was humanely handled, and the animals’ welfare was respected throughout this study.

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Uwagie-Ero, E.A., Abiaezute, C.N., Ikokide, J. et al. Management of stage III benign mammary gland tumor in a 10-year-old female dog. Comp Clin Pathol 27, 807–813 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-018-2718-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-018-2718-1

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