Karadima V. DVM, MRCVS, OV, Internship in Equine Medicine and Surgery AUTh, White Cross Vets, Liverpool, UK | Minelli R. DVM, MRCVS, CertAVP(VC) CertAVP(SAM) CertAVP(VDI) PgDip(VPS), White Cross Vets, UK
Introduction
The aim of this report is to present an unusual case of renal osteosarcoma in a dog. Extraskeletal osteosarcomas (EO) are divided into mammary gland and soft tissue origin. Soft tissue EO are rare and have poor prognosis.
Clinical case
A 7-year-old, male, neutered Norwegian Elkhound presented for a 24 hour- duration hematuria. The patient was up to date with vaccines and parasite control and clinical examination was normal. Inhouse urinalysis, complete blood count and biochemistry were indicative of renal pathology. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a mass in the left kidney, invading the caudal vena cava and fine needle aspiration was performed immediately.
Results
The cytological findings were consistent with sarcoma (most likely osteosarcoma). Computed Tomography revealed a mass in the left kidney invading renal vein and caudal vena cava, with distant metastasis in multiple sites. Six days later, the patient presented with severe gastrointestinal signs and euthanasia was performed due to poor quality of life.
Conclusions
Soft tissue osteosarcoma is a rare neoplasia in dogs, with a survival time ranged from 26 days to a few months. Renal osteosarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute cases of hematuria in canine patients.
