Esophageal osteosarcoma in a dog
Turnwald, G.H.; Smallwood, J.E.; Helman, R.G.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 174(9): 1009-1011
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 285065 Document Number: 143582
Thoracic and abdominal radiography of an 8-year-old male Golden Retriever in Texas, USA, with a 4-week history of anaemia and a 2-week history of diarrhoea, revealed right-sided pleural effusion and increased fluid density in the caudodorsal portion of the mediastinum. Contrast gastro-intestinal radiography revealed an unusual oesophageal pattern cranial to the diaphragm. An area of abnormal fluid density was noticed on the right ventrodorsal - oblique view in the right caudal thorax. The radiographic interpretation was that of intraluminal oesophageal masses suggestive of infection by Spirocerca lupi. On oesophagoscopy, a mass resembling granulation tissue partially obstructed the lumen of the oesophagus. Repeated faecal examinations were negative for parasite eggs, including those of S. lupi. The dog was discharged and treated orally with chloramphenicol (30 mg/kg body-weight/day) for 5 days. 19 days later the dog was readmitted in shock, and in spite of emergency therapy, died. Post-mortem examination revealed that microscopically, the oesophageal mass had the morphological characteristics of osteosarcoma. It is concluded that S. lupi cannot be presumed to be the cause of the osteosarcoma.