NASAL ADENOCARCINOMA IN A DOG: CLINICAL, HISTOPATHOLOGICAL, AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ASPECTS – A CASE REPORT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25110/arqvet.v28i2.2025-12722Keywords:
Histopathology, Immunohistochemical evaluation, Nasal neoplasia, ToceranibAbstract
A 13-year-old intact male Shih Tzu dog was presented with a history of recurrent sneezing, partial nasal obstruction, weight loss, and the presence of a nodular mass on the hard palate. Physical examination revealed mild pain on palpation of the oral and nasal regions, with no other significant abnormalities. Hematological and serum biochemical analyses were within the reference intervals. Computed tomography revealed an extensive nasal mass associated with bone lysis and invasion of the oral cavity and cranial cavity. An excisional biopsy demonstrated an infiltrative malignant epithelial neoplasm composed of tubular proliferation with solid areas, marked cellular pleomorphism, and a high mitotic index. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive immunoreactivity for AE1/AE3 and CK8/18, negative expression of PAX5, CD20, CD3, and synaptophysin, and a Ki-67 proliferative index of approximately 12%, confirming the diagnosis of nasal adenocarcinoma. Considering the extent of the lesion and the owners' financial constraints, chemotherapy was initiated with doxorubicin (1 mg/kg every 21 days for five cycles), followed by toceranib phosphate (3.25 mg/kg every 48 hours). After 90 days of follow-up, the patient remains clinically stable, with preservation of quality of life and adequate control of clinical signs. This case highlights the importance of integrating clinical, imaging, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings to establish a definitive diagnosis of nasal adenocarcinoma, as well as to support therapeutic planning and clinical management in dogs affected by this neoplasm.
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