Malignant seminoma with gross metastases in a dog

Abstract

A 10‐year‐old male crossbred dog developed a non‐painful unilateral testicular swelling; the other gonad was reduced in size. Both gonads were removed surgically; the larger contained a diffuse seminoma, the smaller atrophic testis contained an interstitial cell adenoma and several intratubular seminomas. Six months after being castrated the dog developed palpable intraabdominal masses. Necropsy revealed gross metastatic malignant seminoma in para‐aortic lymph nodes. No histological features were identified to correlate with the malignant behaviour of this usually benign tumour.

Cytologic Features of Testicular Tumours in Dog

“…The occurrence of testicular tumours has been associated with clinical changes (Lipowitz et al., 1973) including prostatic diseases (Gill, 1981; Spackman and Roth, 1988), several cutaneous syndromes (Barsanti et al., 1979; Fadok et al., 1986), haematological disorders (Sherding et al., 1981; Morgan, 1982; Morris, 1983; Suess et al., 1992) and perianal neoplasms (Scott and Reimers, 1986). Testicular tumours may also be associated with metastatic behaviour (Hogenhesch et al., 1987; Tennant and Kelly, 1992; Dhaliwal et al., 1999; Sugnini et al., 2000): seminomas are metastatic in 5–10% of cases, primarily localizing to the sublumbar lymph nodes (Cooley and Waters, 2001) and occasionally to other organs (Hogenhesch et al., 1987; Ogilvie and Moore, 1995; Sugnini et al., 2000). While metastases of sertolioma have been described (Dhaliwal et al., 1999), no metastatic cases of Leydig cell tumours have been reported.…”

Metastasized Leydig cell tumor in a dog

“…The distinction between benign and malignant forms is based on histological criteria such as infiltrative growth and can be difficult to diagnose (MacLachlan and Kennedy, 2002). Metastasized Sertoli cell tumors and Seminoma have been described in dogs (Tennant and Kelly, 1992;Dhaliwal et al, 1999), but to our knowledge metastasis of Leydig cell tumor in the muscles has not yet been reported in a dog.…”

“…However, due to the borderline elevated estradiol values in the GnRH-stimulation test we cannot completely exclude the presences of hormonal active cells. Metastases of seminoma and Sertoli cell tumors in dogs can be treated with chemotherapy or with radiation (McDonald et al, 1988;Tennant and Kelly, 1992;Dhaliwal et al, 1999;Takiguchi et al, 2001;Lucas et al, 2011). We used metronomic chemotherapy because encouraging results were obtained in incompletely resected or metastasized soft tissue sarcomas with little or no side effects (Elmslie et al, 2008;Marchetti et al, 2011).…”

Unusual Systemic Metastases of Malignant Seminoma in a Dog

“…Metastases to medial iliac, para‐aortic and mesenteric lymph nodes, scrotum, spleen, lungs, brain, eyes, kidney, liver, peritoneum and skin have been described in the dog (Honenesch et al. 1987; Tennant and Kelly 1992; Ogilvie and Moore 1995; Spugnini et al 2000; Takiguchi et al. 2001; Wang et al 2001).…”

“…In contrast, despite their malignant histological appearance, in dogs, metastasis occurs only in a small percentage of the cases and normally is associated with old dogs. Metastases to medial iliac, para-aortic and mesenteric lymph nodes, scrotum, spleen, lungs, brain, eyes, kidney, liver, peritoneum and skin have been described in the dog (Honenesch et al 1987;Tennant and Kelly 1992;Ogilvie and Moore 1995;Spugnini et al 2000;Takiguchi et al 2001;Wang et al 2001). In the present case, 2 months after orchiectomy three white nodules in the skin were diagnosed as metastatic SEM.…”