Poorly Differentiated Uterine or Cervical Sarcoma in a Young Dog

Abstract EN

A 1.5 year old, female, spayed, Labrador retriever with a history of three abdominal surgeries within the previous two months presented to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for evaluation of a pelvic inlet mass causing fecal tenesmus, obstipation, and dysuria.

Abdominal ultrasound revealed a caudal abdominal mass extending into the pelvic cavity.

Cytologic evaluation of the mass showed a pleomorphic round to fusiform cell population with histiocytic and suppurative inflammation.

The primary differential was neoplasia, but inflammation with cellular pleomorphism could not be excluded.

Via histopathology and immunohistochemistry, a diagnosis of poorly differentiated sarcoma originating from the uterus or cervix with widespread intra-abdominal dissemination and metastasis was made.

Sarcomas of any type are rare in young dogs with only sporadic cases of poorly or undifferentiated sarcomas reported.

This case is a unique presentation of an aggressive, poorly differentiated sarcoma arising from the cervix or uterus in a young dog and illustrates the importance of histologic evaluation of surgically resected tissues that are abnormal in appearance.