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Jozef Nicpon, Krzysztof Kubiak, Marcin Jankowski, Jolanta Spuzak, Marta Rzeszutko*, Urszula Paslawska, Kamila Glinska-Suchocka, Iwona Poswiatowska-Kaszczyszyn ®
Department of Internal and Parasitic Diseases with Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life
Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366 Wroclaw, Poland *Department of Pathological Anatomy, Medical University, ul. Marcinkowskiego 1,
50-368 Wroclaw, Poland
ENDOSCOPIC DIAGNOSTICS OF POSTERIOR ALIMENTARY TRACT SEGMENT TUMOURS IN DOGS
Key words: endoscopy, posterior alimentary tract, tumor, dog
Introduction
Intestinal tumours in dogs are a relatively rare reason for medical consultations as they represent less than 10% of all diagnosed tumours in this species. They are more common in older dogs and males than young dogs and females. Tumours of the posterior alimentary tract segment may be benign, eg. adenoma, leiomyoma, or malignant, eg. adenocarcinoma, carcinoma, levicellular sarcoma. It should be underlined that the most common tumours of the posterior alimentary tract segment in dogs are adenocarcinomas and carcinomas. The most common symptoms of the large intestine tumours are: diarrhea, constipation, difficulties in passing faeces, painful defecation, rectal tenesmus, blood and mucus in faeces, weight loss, variable appetite. These symptoms are related to proliferative changes location, their size and type. Diagnostics of the large intestine tumours should be based on: anamnesis, clinical examination results as well as additional examinations (hematological and biochemical blood examinations, radiological examination, including contrast examination, ultrasound examination of the pelvic and abdominal cavities, endoscopic examination). Due to the similarity of clinical signs typical of the large intestine tumours to the signs observed in the colon inflammation, this disease should always be taken into account in differential diagnosis (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
Task, the aim of the article
The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of the endoscopic examination of the posterior alimentary tract segment in diagnostics of the rectum and colon tumours.
Material and methods
The study covered 30 dogs of different breed, size nad sex, aged 4-10 years that were referred to the endoscopic laboratory of Department of Internal and Parasitic Diseases with Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats for endoscopy of the
® Jozef Nicpon, Krzysztof Kubiak, Marcin Jankowski, Jolanta Spuzak, Marta Rzeszutko, Urszula Paslawska, Kamila Glinska-Suchocka, Iwona Poswiatowska-Kaszczyszyn, 2008
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posterior alimentary tract segment. The dogs suffered chronic diarrheas, constipation, difficulty in passing faeces, painful defecation. Also the presence of blood in faeces was observed. The patients were prepared dietetically (48-hour fasting) for recto- and colonoscopy. Additionally, 3-4 enemas were recommended the day before the examination. The endoscopic examination was carried out without anesthesia or after premedication or under general anesthesia depending on the animal's temperament. For premedication xylazine - 1-2mg kg/b.w. with atropine - 0.05mg/kg b.w. were used, whereas for general anesthesia tiopental was used - first in the dose 5mg/kg b.w., and next - according to the effect of action. Endoscopy of the posterior alimentary tract segment was performed with an Olympus XQ 20 pediatric endoscope, of working length - 100cm and diameter - 9.8mm. Additionally, during each endoscopic ecamination the mucosa samples were collected by means of biopsy forceps for a histopathological examination.
Results of research
The conducted examinations led to the diagnosis of the chronic rectum and colon inflammation of different intensity - 22 cases and proliferative changes - 8 cases , including:
- colic adenocarcinoma (adenocarcinoma coli) - 3 cases
- colic tubular adenoma (adenoma tubularae coli) - 2 cases
- rectal adenoma (adenocarcinoma recti) - 1 case
- infiltratio adenocarcinomatosa mucosae ani - 1 case
- rectal and colic adenocarcinoma (adenocarcinoma recti et coli) - 1 case
Selected case reports
Case I concerns a male dog of Boxer breed, 7 years old, with diarrhea and constipation alternately, variable appetite and weight loss observed for about 3 months. Also blood and mucus were visible in faeces. A tumour of uneven surface was palpated in the rectum. The endoscopic examination revealed a tumour of the hazel nut size situated about 7cm from the anus. Rectal adenocarcinoma was diagnosed on the basis of the histopathological examination.
Case II. A male St. Bernard shepherd dog, 8 years old, had been referred to our clinic. The dog had had diarrhea and blood in faeces for about 2 months. The endoscopic examination of the posterior alimentary tract segment revealed mucus and blood in the descending colon and rectum. In addition, erythema and considerable mucosa thickening as well as erosions and ulcerations were observed. Rectal and colonic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed on the basis of the histopathological examination.
Case III concerns a female medium Schnautzer dog, 9 years old, with diarrhea and constipation alternately and irregular defecation observed for about 1 year. The endoscopic examination revealed plenty of mucous, erythema, thickening and uneven surface of the mucosa in the ascending colon. In addition, the narrowing of the colon lumen was observed about 20cm from the anus. Colonic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed on the basis of the histopathological examination.
Case IV. A male Golden Retriever dog, 8 years old, had been referred to the endoscopic laboratory for recto- and colonoscopy. The dog had suffered difficulties in
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passing faeces, painful defecation. Also blood was observed in the faeces, The endoscopic examination revealed a tumour of uneven surface, the cherry size and soft texture in the descending colon. In addition, at the base of the tumour blood was observed. Tubular adenoma with a high degree dysplasia was diagnosed in the histopathological examination of bioptates.
Conclusions
In the conducted examinations it was proved that endoscopy is a safe and very useful technique in diagnostics of the large intestine tumours. It allows localization of proliferative changes and determination of their size. A precise collection of bioptates and their histopathological evaluation makes it possible to identify the type of tumour, which is of great importance for further therapy.
Reference
4. Church E.M., Mahihaff C.J., Patniak A.K.: Colorectal adenocarcinoma in dogs: 78 cases (1973 - 1984). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1987, 191, 727 - 730.
5. Gibbs C., Pearson H.: Localised tumors of the canine small intestine: a report of 20 cases. J. Small Amin. Pract. 1986, 27, 5007 - 519.
6. Morris J., Dobson J.: Onkologia mafych zwierz^t. SIMA WLW, Warszawa 2003.
7. Paoloni M.C., Penninck D.G., Moors A.S.: Ultrasonographic and clinicopathologic findings in 21 dogs with intestinal adenocarcinoma. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound. 2002, 43, 562 - 567.
8. Valerius K.D., Powers B.E., McPherron M.A.: Adenomatous polyps and carcinoma in situ of the canine colon and rectum: 34 cases (1982 - 1994). J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 1997, 33, 156 - 160.
9. Withrow S.J., Vail D.M.: Withrow and Macewen's Small Animal Clinical Oncology. Saunders, St. Louis, 2007.
Summary
The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of the endoscopic examination of the posterior alimentary tract segment in diagnostics of the rectum and colon tumours. The study covered 30 dogs of different breed, size nad sex, aged 4-10 years that were referred to the endoscopic laboratory. The conducted examinations led to the diagnosis of the chronic rectum and colon inflammation of different intensity - 22 cases and proliferative changes - 8 cases , including: colic adenocarcinoma (adenocarcinoma coli) - 3 cases, colic tubular adenoma (adenoma tubularae coli) - 2 cases, rectal adenoma (adenocarcinoma recti) - 1 case, infiltratio adenocarcinomatosa mucosae ani - 1 case, rectal and colic adenocarcinoma (adenocarcinoma recti et coli) - 1 case.
In the conducted examinations it was proved that endoscopy is a safe and very useful technique in diagnostics of the large intestine tumours. It allows localization of proliferative changes and determination of their size. A precise collection of bioptates and their histopathological evaluation makes it possible to identify the type of tumour, which is of great importance for further therapy.
Cmammx nadiuwxa do peda^ii 20.09.2008
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