What is your diagnosis? Ventral neck mass in a dog

Abstract

A 14-year-old male Labrador Retriever was presented for lethargy and collapse. On physical examination, numerous abnormalities were found, including a large ventral neck mass (100cm3) in the area of the thyroid gland. Fine-needle aspirates revealed 2 apparent populations of cells: one suspected to be a well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and the other consisting of large pleomorphic to spin-dloid cells suggestive of sarcoma. Two days later, the dog died at home. A full necropsy was not performed, but examination of the head and neck revealed a well-encapsulated mass adjacent to the cranial trachea and larynx. A section of the mass was evaluated histologically and a diagnosis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma was made. Immunohistochemical evaluation with antibodies to thyroglobulin, cytokeratin, and vimentin confirmed distinct populations of malignant epithelial and malignant mesenchymal cells, and the diagnosis was amended to thyroid carcinosarcoma. Thyroid carcinosarcoma is a rare neoplasm in dogs in which the cell type comprising the mesenchymal component can vary. Immunochemistry to demonstrate the 2 cell types may be necessary to differentiate thyroid carcinosarcoma from anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. © 2008 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.