Peri‐articular Histiocytic Sarcoma and Previous Joint Disease in Bernese Mountain Dogs

Abstract

Background: Peri-articular histiocytic sarcoma (PAHS) occurs in dogs, including Bernese Mountain Dogs (BMD). An etiologic relationship with previous joint disease has not been documented.Hypothesis: Peri-articular histiocytic sarcoma in BMD will be more frequently encountered around previously diseased joints compared with normal joints.Animals: 920 European BMD. Methods: A retrospective study, in which data were obtained through an Internet questionnaire and from 2 veterinary pathology laboratories. Archived samples of hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining diagnosed PAHS and synovial cell sarcoma (SCS) were immunolabeled with CD18 and pancytokeratin. Descriptive, comparative, and actuarial statistics comprise the data analysis.Results: All primary synovial tumors were identified as PAHS based on their morphology, positive CD18, and negative pancytokeratin labeling. Joint disease was diagnosed in 226 BMD, of which 15 developed PAHS in a previously diseased joint and 3 in a nondiseased joint. Of the remaining 694 BMD without joint disease, 9 developed PAHS. The odds ratio for a dog with previous joint disease developing PAHS is calculated as 5.4 (95% CI: 2.3-12.5; P < .0001) compared with no previous joint problem. A significant association between previous joint disease and PAHS in the same joint was demonstrated for the left elbow (P = .016), right elbow (P = .006), right shoulder (P = .047), left and right stifle (P < .001), and left carpal joint (P = .010).Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The results of this study suggest a relation between previous joint disease and the development of PAHS in the same joint of European BMD. Owners of BMD should monitor dogs for peri-articular swellings, particularly around previously diseased joints.

Risk Factors Associated with Development of Histiocytic Sarcoma in Bernese Mountain Dogs

“…Both exposure variables reported here, diagnosis with an orthopedic condition and treatment with anti‐inflammatory medications, could be considered surrogate indicators for inflammation, but direct measurement of inflammatory processes would not have been possible given the study design and retrospective nature of data collection. However, the findings of our study are consistent with associations that have been reported between inflammatory disorders and cancer in both humans and dogs, and thus support the hypothesis that chronic inflammation is associated with the occurrence of HS in BMD.…”

“…Both modeling approaches identified similar relationships with the outcome of HS in BMD, which strengthens conclusions that might be drawn from our study. The relationship between orthopedic conditions and HS has been examined previously and it was reported that BMD were >5 times more likely to develop peri‐articular HS in a previously diseased joint than a dog with no prior diagnosis of joint disease . To the authors’ knowledge, however, associations between treatment with prescription anti‐inflammatory medications and a decreased risk of developing HS have not been reported previously in either dogs or humans.…”

Clinicopathological characteristics of histiocytic sarcoma affecting the central nervous system in dogs

“…In the absence of a defined intracranial subdural space, both primary and disseminated HS involve both the meninges and the brain parenchyma, and most other intracranial neoplasia is not associated with marked CSF pleocytosis, also supporting an argument for inherent differences in the pro‐inflammatory nature of the primary versus disseminated HS subtypes. Articular or periarticular HS also has been associated with a marked inflammatory response, and associations have been made between prior injury and inflammation involving the joint and the development of HS . No direct evidence supports underlying inflammation as a predisposing factor for the development of HS, but the link between inflammation and a variety of cancers is well documented .…”

A Review of Histiocytic Diseases of Dogs and Cats

“…18 A history of anterior cruciate rupture or other traumatic injury to joints is associated with the development of articular HS. 18,82 Synovitis has been reported in association with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. T cells and dendritic cells are major components of the inflammatory response.…”