European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MIXED APOCRINE GLAND TUMOUR IN A GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

Lakkawar A.W., Kumar R., Nair M.G.*, Varshney KC, Balagopalan T.P.  and Ramesh Kumar B.

ABSTRACT

This report describes the gross and histopathological features of a solitary mass resected out from the left perineal region from an 11 year- old German Shepherd intact dog. The mass (7-7.5 cm in diameter) was difficult to transect and the cut surfaces revealed dense white gritty areas at many places. Microscopic examination of the tumour mass revealed proliferating epithelial cells forming papillary projections and at some places, with tendency to form acini separated by thin connective tissue stroma. The neoplastic cells showed pleomorphism, nuclear hyperchromasia with prominent nucleoli, mitotic figures and moderate amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm. Based on the presence of intracytoplasmic PAS-positive, diastase resistant granules within the glandular epithelial cells and the intracellular iron positive granules, the neoplasm were considered to be of apocrine origin. Additionally, there was extensive proliferation of stromal elements, comprising of collagen rich fibro-vascular connective tissue admixed with cartilage and osteoid arranged as anastomosing trabeculae. The gross and histopathological features of the tumour were suggestive of mixed apocrine gland tumour.

Keywords: Gross and histological features, mixed apocrine gland tumour, German Shepherd dog.