Clinical and morphological features of mastocyte diagnosis in dogs

Abstract

Mastocytoma is one of the most common skin tumours in dogs. It is characterised by a specific course, unpredictable behaviour, and prognosis. This tumour is dangerous because it mimics the external signs of other neoplasms, from less-threatening lipoma to skin cancer. The purpose of the study is to conduct pathomorphological verification and classification of neoplasia in dogs diagnosed during a clinical examination and to establish the features of the morphological manifestation of the skin form of mastocytoma in them. The material for the studies was obtained by excisional biopsy during surgical interventions for skin neoplasms. The diagnosis of mastocytoma was established based on the results of a clinical examination of animals and the examination of biopsy material of neoplasms using cytological and histological research methods. It was established that the share of skin neoplasia in the structure of oncological diseases of dogs was 30.12%. Among the animals with skin neoplasia that were examined, mastocytoma was diagnosed in 17.55% of dogs aged 3 to 14 years. The highest incidence rates were established in dogs aged 7 to 12 years. Most often, skin mastocytoma was diagnosed in dogs of the following breeds: Shar Pei – 13.5%; Labrador – 9.5%; Boxer – 8.2%. Isolated cases of tumour formations were observed in animals of such breeds as: German shepherd, Spaniel, Central Asian Shepherd, and Pug. Depending on gender: males accounted for 52.2%, females – 47.8%. In 50% of the examined animals, mastocytomas developed with rapid dynamics, which indicates a substantial aggressiveness of tumour growth. Clinically, signs of dehydration and gastrointestinal disorders were detected in dogs, which indicates the development of paraneoplastic syndrome. According to the results of sonography, it was established that skin mastocytomas are visualised as heterogeneous hypoechoic structures with indistinct contours and uneven edges. Based on the results of the study, new information was obtained regarding the morphological features of the manifestation and development of mastocytes in dogs. Thus, the obtained results complement and expand knowledge about the pathogenesis of mastocytoma in dogs, the frequency of spread and features of the course of this oncological pathology in a separate geographical population of Ukraine