Case Study

Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate in a 9 year old MN Cocker Spaniel

A 9-year-old neutered male Cocker Spaniel dog with a history of chronic diarrhea was presented for evaluation of recent onset hematuria. Prostatomegaly was present on rectal palpation. On survey radiographs, uroliths and narrowing of the distal colon at the pelvic inlet were evident.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis (bacterial vs. sterile), and prostatic neoplasia (adenocarcinoma vs. transitional cell carcinoma arising from the urethra and prostatic duct epithelium) are all possible. However, the presence of punctate mineralizations is strongly indicative of neoplasia.

Image Interpretation

The prostate was severely enlarged, irregularly shaped, and exhibited mixed hypoechoic heterogenous echogenicity. There was diffuse coalescing mineralization present throughout the prostate creating complete acoustic shadowing.