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. 2024 Sep 18:46:e003024.
doi: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003024. eCollection 2024.

Breast carcinoma in a dog: sensitivity and specificity between cytopathology and histopathology

Paola Alejandra Montenegro Cuellar  1 , Noeme Sousa Rocha  2 , Natália Freitas de Souza  3 , Fernando Carmona Dinau  4
Affiliations

Breast carcinoma in a dog: sensitivity and specificity between cytopathology and histopathology

Paola Alejandra Montenegro Cuellar et al. Braz J Vet Med. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

This study evaluated the accuracy of mammary carcinoma diagnoses in female dogs through cytological exams (FNA) compared to histopathological diagnoses. The presence of neoplasia and the effectiveness of procedures at the Pathology Laboratory of the Veterinary Hospital of the FMVZ of Unesp Botucatu, were analyzed. Between 2015 and 2020, a total of 1100 mammary neoplasms were identified, of which 569 were mammary carcinomas. Fifty cytological samples were selected and analyzed to determine occurrence, age at presentation, and the most affected breeds, as well as to verify the obtained diagnoses. Mammary carcinoma constituted for 51.72% of the registered cases. A higher occurrence was observed in mixed-breed female dogs, at 40.42%, followed by Poodles at 17%. The most common age at diagnosis was 10 years, and in 65.55% of cases, the dogs had not been previously spayed. 9.31% of the animals had received contraceptives, while 14% had given birth and 14.58% had presented symptoms of pseudopregnancy at some point in their lives. In the test results, a 70% agreement between cytology and histology was observed, with a 30% disagreement between them. Statistically, a sensitivity of 79.32% and a specificity of 57.14% were reflected. Intact and older female dogs represent a significant risk of developing mammary carcinoma. Although the protocol for processing and interpreting cytological samples is well established, the results do not reach the level of excellence observed in previous studies.

O estudo avaliou a precisão dos diagnósticos de carcinoma mamário em cadelas por meio de exames citológicos (PAAF) em comparação com diagnósticos histopatológicos. Foi analisada a presencia da neoplasia e a eficácia dos procedimentos no Laboratório de Patologia do Hospital Veterinário da FMVZ da Unesp, Botucatu. Foram registradas 1100 neoplasias mamárias entre 2015 e 2020, das quais 569 foram carcinomas mamários. Cinquenta amostras citopatológicas foram selecionadas e analisadas para determinar a ocorrência, idade de apresentação e raças mais afetadas, além de verificar os diagnósticos obtidos. O carcinoma mamário representou 51,72% dos casos registrados. Observou-se maior ocorrência em cadelas SRD, com 40,42%, seguidas por Poodles com 17%. A idade mais comum de diagnóstico foi de 10 anos, e em 65,55% dos casos as cadelas não haviam sido castradas previamente. 9,31% dos animais haviam recebido contraceptivos, enquanto 14% já haviam dado à luz e 14,58% apresentaram sintomas de pseudociese em algum momento de suas vidas. Nos resultados dos exames, foi observada uma concordância de 70% entre citologia e histologia, com 30% de discordância entre eles. Estatisticamente, foi refletida uma sensibilidade de 79,32% e uma especificidade de 57,14%. Cadelas intactas e mais velhas representam um risco significativo no desenvolvimento de carcinoma mamário. Embora o protocolo de processamento e interpretação de amostras citopatológicas esteja bem estabelecido, os resultados não alcançam o nível de excelência observado em estudos anteriores.

Keywords: carcinoma; cell; cytopathology; female dog; mamma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests: PAMC, NSR, NFS and FCD – No conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Total neoplasms and carcinomas.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Most diagnosed breeds.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Age Range.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Solid Carcinoma: (a) Cohesive epithelial cells with minimal cellular atypia, emphasizing the importance of histopathological confirmation in suspected neoplasia cases (H&E 40x); (b) Proliferation of epithelial cells in a solid arrangement, bordered by fibrovascular connective tissue (arrow) (H&E 40x).
Figure 5
Figure 5. Cells arranged in cohesive groups, showing cellular pleomorphism, scarce and poorly defined cytoplasm, an increased nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, anisocytosis, and macrocytosis; nuclear molding (white arrow), acinar arrangement (black arrow), (H&E 40x).
Figure 6
Figure 6. Cubic to columnar epithelial foci with high pleomorphism (white arrows) and cartilaginous and bone components (black arrow), in addition to changes in the nucleus-cytoplasm ratio in mixed tumor carcinoma (H&E 40x).
Figure 7
Figure 7. Multinucleated cell (black arrow), prominent nucleolus (white arrow) (Pap 40x).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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