Extramedullar hematopoiesis (EMH) and other pathological conditions in canine spleens

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate pathological conditions in canine spleens. The spleens of 105 dogs were examined histopathologically. The age of dogs ranged from 2 months (n = 6) to 21 years (n = 99). There were 78 male and 27 female animals. Macroscopically, 93 spleens were enlarged. During histophatological examination, different pathological conditions were found (extramedullary hemopoiesis (EMH), lymphoma, inflammation, amyloidosis, diffuse and follicular white pulp hyperplasia, red pulp hyperplasia, hematomas). Although it is a rare condition, EHM was found in the spleens of 72 dogs (68.6 percent), and further investigations are needed together with bone marrow examination. We observed that splenomegaly, especially as a focal spleen enlargement, is common in dogs, but often missdiagnosed as malignant spleen tumor.