Canine Multicentric Lymphoma: Diagnostic, Treatment, and Prognostic Insights

Abstract

Lymphoma accounts for 24% of all documented canine neoplasms and 85% of hematological malignancies, while multicentric lymphoma corresponds to 84% of all canine lymphomas. Canine lymphomas of B-cell origin account for 60% to 80% of lymphomas. Similar to humans, the histologic grade, architecture, as well as immunophenotype determination, are crucial. These lesions are the most prevalent spontaneous tumors in dogs and this species may be a valuable animal model for the study of human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Therefore, it is important to investigate and assess therapeutic responses and to seek predictive and prognostic factors in order to allow for the development of an individualized and more effective therapy that increases survival. This review aims to describe current knowledge on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic factors of canine multicentric lymphoma.

Keywords: chemotherapy; comparative oncology; dog; immunotherapy; lymphoma.

Figure 1

(A) Mixed-breed female dog of 7 years old, diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) through aspiration cytology of the left popliteal lymph node; and (B) mixed-breed male dog of 10 years old, diagnosed with immunoblastic B-cell lymphoma presenting left hind limb edema.

Figure 2

Cytology of popliteal lymph node of male Rottweiler dog, 10 years old, diagnosed with a DLCBL (OMS). Note the high cellularity of lymphocytes and the presence of lymphoglandular corpuscles. (40× magnification, panopticon stain). Kindly provided by Vetmol-SP, Brazil and all rights reserved.

Figure 3

Histopathology of the popliteal lymph node of a mixed breed dog, 8 years old, diagnosed with immunoblastic B-cell lymphoma: (A) microscopically, loss of the follicular lymph node architecture is seen, which is now replaced by a uniform population of round neoplastic cells. (HE, 40×, Bar: 50 µm); and (B) at a higher magnification, the lesion is composed of large neoplastic lymphocytes, exhibiting nuclear pleomorphism and multiple nucleoli (HE, 200×, Bar: 100 µm).

Figure 4

Schematic representation of the criteria used for the histological classification of canine nodal lymphoma. Created with BioRender.com accessed on 27 September 2024.

Figure 5

(A) Canine inguinal lymph node of a Labrador retriever, 6 years old, diagnosed with peripheral T-cell lymphoma. IHC for CD3 antibody counterstained with Mayer’s hematoxylin. The neoplastic cells present strong CD3 immunoexpression (40×); and (B) popliteal lymph node of a male Rottweiler, 10 years old, diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. IHC for PAX5 antibody counterstained with Mayer’s hematoxylin. The neoplastic cells present strong CD3 immunoexpression (40×). Kindly provided by Vetmol-SP, Brazil and all rights reserved.

Figure 6

(A) Lateral thoracic radiograph of a 5-year-old mongrel dog with multicentric lymphoma and sternal lymph node involvement; and (B) thoracic radiograph of an 8-year-old shih tzu dog with pulmonary edema and cranial pleural effusion due to multicentric lymphoma.

Figure 7

Dog diagnosed with DLCBL: (A) measurement of the affected ventral cervical lymph node at the time of diagnosis; and (B) measurement of the same lymph node at the tenth week of CHOP chemotherapy treatment. The patient was in complete remission.

Figure 8

Chemotherapy phases in canine lymphoma treatment [1,2,3,16]. Created with BioRender.com accessed on 29 January 2025.

Figure 9

Inguinal lymph node of a Labrador retriever, 6 years old diagnosed with multicentric BLBCL lymphoma. The neoplastic population reveal specific nuclear Ki67 immunoreactivity. IHC for Ki67 counterstained with Mayer’s hematoxylin (400×). Kindly provided by Vetmol-SP, Brazil and all rights reserved.