Primary splenic paraganglioma in a dog

Abstract

A 6-year-old intact female Shih-tzu dog was referred due to anorexia. Physical examination, complete blood count, serum chemical analysis, radiography, and ultrasonography were evaluated. Physical examination and hematological analysis showed normal findings. Abdominal radiographs and ultrasound revealed well-defined masses in the spleen. Other abdominal organs showed no significant abnormalities. Tissue samples taken via sono-guided fine needle aspiration of the splenic mass showed many bare nuclei, which were variable in size. Results of histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses performed after splenectomy were consistent with paraganglioma. Based on these findings, we diagnosed this patient with a paraganglioma of splenic origin. Two months after splenectomy, abdominal ultrasonography revealed a new neoplastic lesion in the liver. The clients refused further management and the patient expired three months after initial diagnosis. Necropsy as well as histopathological and IHC examinations of other systemic organs including the liver, adrenal gland, kidney, brain, urinary bladder, lung, aortic body, carotid body, and pancreas were performed. The neoplastic tissue in the liver also demonstrated features of a paraganglioma, and there were no remarkable findings in all other organs. ? 2018, Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics. All rights reserved.