Case Study

Lymphoma in an 8 year old FS Beagle dog

An 8 year-old FS Beagle dog was presented for intermittent diarrhea of several months duration. There was no history of vomiting, and the dog remained active and continued to eat well. The dog had undergone an exploratory laparotomy in 2000 at which time multiple enlarged intra-abdominal lymph nodes were identified. Biopsy results of the enlarged lymph nodes showed reactive hyperplasia without any signs of neoplasia. Radiographs were performed but showed decreased detail due to the patient’s obesity; however, no obvious abnormalities were noted.

An 8 year-old FS Beagle dog was presented for intermittent diarrhea of several months duration. There was no history of vomiting, and the dog remained active and continued to eat well. The dog had undergone an exploratory laparotomy in 2000 at which time multiple enlarged intra-abdominal lymph nodes were identified. Biopsy results of the enlarged lymph nodes showed reactive hyperplasia without any signs of neoplasia. Radiographs were performed but showed decreased detail due to the patient’s obesity; however, no obvious abnormalities were noted. Blood chemistry revealed hyperkalemia, while the CBC showed a leukocytosis, consisting of a neutrophilia, and monocytosis, as well as a thrombocytosis.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Abdominal infiltrative disease such as lymphoma, primarily involving the distal intestinal tract.

Image Interpretation

The abdomen in this patient presented multiple mesenteric root lymph nodes that were significantly enlarged and dramatically hypoechoic, significant loss of parenchymal detail and inflamed capsules with reactive surrounding mesentery. The colon was diffusely infiltrated with mural detail loss. The distal small intestine was also infiltrated. The iliac lymph nodes were enlarged with similar presentation of the mesenteric root lymph nodes

DX

Lymphnodes suggestive of lymphoma-possibly granular.

Outcome

Chemotherapy was initiated, but the dog became anorexic, adipsic and lost a significant amount of weight. She also developed hematochezia, at which time the owner elected to euthanize the dog for humane reasons.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

GI pathology (food allergy or intolerance, dietary indiscretion, gastrointestinal parasitism, inflammatory bowel disease, antibiotic responsive diarrhea, gastrointestinal neoplasia -lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, mast cell tumor.