Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic Sarcoma

Hepatic sarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors in veterinary medicine, with limited reports in the literature. This case report describes a canine hepatic myofibroblastic sarcoma in a 5-year-old spayed female Dobermann. The dog presented with abdominal enlargement and was diagnosed with a large hep...

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Main Authors: Valentina Rinaldi, Laura Nordio, Massimo Vignoli, Stefano Masci, Lorenzo Ressel, Paolo Emidio Crisi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/521
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author Valentina Rinaldi
Laura Nordio
Massimo Vignoli
Stefano Masci
Lorenzo Ressel
Paolo Emidio Crisi
author_facet Valentina Rinaldi
Laura Nordio
Massimo Vignoli
Stefano Masci
Lorenzo Ressel
Paolo Emidio Crisi
author_sort Valentina Rinaldi
collection DOAJ
description Hepatic sarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors in veterinary medicine, with limited reports in the literature. This case report describes a canine hepatic myofibroblastic sarcoma in a 5-year-old spayed female Dobermann. The dog presented with abdominal enlargement and was diagnosed with a large hepatic mass following comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, including blood tests, imaging, and histopathology. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the tumor’s myofibroblastic origin, characterized by positivity for markers such as vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and muscular actin (HHF35). Treatment involved a combination of intense-dose chemotherapy using doxorubicin and a subsequent metronomic chemotherapy protocol, which resulted in prolonged survival of over 690 days at the time this manuscript was written. This case highlights the importance of extensive diagnostic and immunohistochemical profiling in the accurate classification of and treatment planning for hepatic sarcomas, and emphasizes the role of advanced veterinary diagnostics in improving patient outcomes. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to enhance understanding of the biological behavior and optimal therapeutic strategies for such rare tumors.
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spelling doaj-art-4ee99ed6742846b9a42bcccf38ffa9c62025-08-20T02:21:54ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-05-0112652110.3390/vetsci12060521Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic SarcomaValentina Rinaldi0Laura Nordio1Massimo Vignoli2Stefano Masci3Lorenzo Ressel4Paolo Emidio Crisi5Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D’Accio, 64100 Teramo, ItalySan Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Division of Pathology, 35030 Veggiano, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D’Accio, 64100 Teramo, ItalyClinica Veterinaria Colli Innamorati, Via Colli Innamorati 21, 65125 Pescara, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Anatomy Physiology and Pathology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UKDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D’Accio, 64100 Teramo, ItalyHepatic sarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors in veterinary medicine, with limited reports in the literature. This case report describes a canine hepatic myofibroblastic sarcoma in a 5-year-old spayed female Dobermann. The dog presented with abdominal enlargement and was diagnosed with a large hepatic mass following comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, including blood tests, imaging, and histopathology. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the tumor’s myofibroblastic origin, characterized by positivity for markers such as vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and muscular actin (HHF35). Treatment involved a combination of intense-dose chemotherapy using doxorubicin and a subsequent metronomic chemotherapy protocol, which resulted in prolonged survival of over 690 days at the time this manuscript was written. This case highlights the importance of extensive diagnostic and immunohistochemical profiling in the accurate classification of and treatment planning for hepatic sarcomas, and emphasizes the role of advanced veterinary diagnostics in improving patient outcomes. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to enhance understanding of the biological behavior and optimal therapeutic strategies for such rare tumors.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/521dogtumorliversarcoma
spellingShingle Valentina Rinaldi
Laura Nordio
Massimo Vignoli
Stefano Masci
Lorenzo Ressel
Paolo Emidio Crisi
Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
Veterinary Sciences
dog
tumor
liver
sarcoma
title Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
title_full Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
title_fullStr Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
title_full_unstemmed Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
title_short Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Insights into a Canine Hepatic Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
title_sort clinical histological and immunohistochemical insights into a canine hepatic myofibroblastic sarcoma
topic dog
tumor
liver
sarcoma
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/521
work_keys_str_mv AT valentinarinaldi clinicalhistologicalandimmunohistochemicalinsightsintoacaninehepaticmyofibroblasticsarcoma
AT lauranordio clinicalhistologicalandimmunohistochemicalinsightsintoacaninehepaticmyofibroblasticsarcoma
AT massimovignoli clinicalhistologicalandimmunohistochemicalinsightsintoacaninehepaticmyofibroblasticsarcoma
AT stefanomasci clinicalhistologicalandimmunohistochemicalinsightsintoacaninehepaticmyofibroblasticsarcoma
AT lorenzoressel clinicalhistologicalandimmunohistochemicalinsightsintoacaninehepaticmyofibroblasticsarcoma
AT paoloemidiocrisi clinicalhistologicalandimmunohistochemicalinsightsintoacaninehepaticmyofibroblasticsarcoma