Clinical aspects, diagnosis, and treatment of canine pulmonary adenocarcinoma: Case report

Abstract

The occurrence of primary pulmonary neoplasms in dogs is rare, affects mainly elderly dogs, and the main clinical sign is chronic unproductive cough. For the diagnosis, we take into account findings in the anamnesis, clinical findings, and complementary tests, and chest radiography is the main complementary exam. For the definitive diagnosis, it is indispensable to perform histopathological examination, where pulmonary adenocarcinoma has been the most commonly diagnosed type. The most effective treatment is surgical resection of the nodule, which may be associated with chemotherapy as adjuvant therapy. The prognosis depends on the type of neoplasia, size of the tumor, possibility to perform surgery, and absence of metastasis. The objective of this work was to report the case of a canine, female, Poodle breed, eleven years of age, seen at a veterinary clinic, with complaint of cough a month ago, and intolerance to exercise. On physical examination, the animal was alert with mild tachypnoea, tachycardia, and normal mucous membranes. Routine exams were requested: hemogram, renal biochemistry, hepatic biochemistry, and chest radiography, where a mass in the right caudal lobe was identified. For better pulmonary visualization, aiming at a possible surgical treatment, computed tomography was performed, which located a structure in the right medial lobe, diverging from the chest X-ray. The animal was referred to thoracotomy with intercostal access, where total lobectomy of the right middle lobe was made and the material was submitted to histopathological analysis, establishing the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The animal continued to be followed-up for another eight months, and after the last chemotherapy session showed no signs of the disease.