Maxillofacial osteosarcoma in a five year old rottweiler dog : a case report \

Abstract EN

A five year old male Rottweiler presented with persistent nasal discharge and intermittent epistaxis one year before presentation was diagnosed as having maxillofacial osteosarcoma based on radiographic findings of the skull and histopathological findings of the suspected mass.

Physical examination revealed severe facial swelling and distortion, with pale anaemic mucous membrane.

Radiographs showed severe lysis of the incisive and maxillary bones, with a typical moth-eaten appearance.

In addition, there was distortion of the outline of the nasal turbinate and severe soft tissue swelling.

There was no evidence of metastasis on thoracic radiograph and abdominal ultrasound.

Clinicopathological investigation revealed moderate degree of anaemia with neutrophilic leukocytosis, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, hypernatremia, hyperkalemia, hypochloremia and metabolic alkalosis.

Cytopathological evaluation of the neoplastic mass revealed numerous moderately pleomorphic round, oval, polygonal, spindle-shaped or elongated irregular cells with abundant osteoid at their background.

The neoplastic cells also have different appearances with overproduction of osteoid and invasion of the surrounding tissues.

The dog was euthanized due to poor prognosis of obtaining tumor free margin after surgical excision.

It was recommended that radiographic examination of the skull should be part of the routine assessment of dogs presented with epistaxis