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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
07:01
An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: April 17, 2013
Intracardiac ectopic thyroid carcinosarcoma in a dog.
K M Almes1, A M Heaney, G A Andrews
1Department of Diagnostic Medicine/ Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
Veterinary Pathology
|July 1, 2008
Summary
This study reports the first case of an intracardiac ectopic thyroid carcinosarcoma in a dog. This rare heart tumor, diagnosed via histopathology, highlights a unique presentation of canine neoplasia.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Canine Oncology
- Cardiovascular Pathology
Background:
- Ectopic thyroid tissue, normally found in the neck, can rarely develop into tumors.
- Carcinosarcomas are malignant tumors with both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old Labrador Retriever presented with progressive exercise intolerance due to an interventricular heart mass.
- Echocardiography revealed a mass protruding into the right ventricle.
- Necropsy and histopathology confirmed a carcinosarcoma with features of thyroid tissue, vascular channels, and osteoid.
Findings:
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed neoplastic thyroid follicular cells (thyroglobulin-positive) and neoplastic endothelium (factor VIII-related antigen-positive).
- The normal thyroid gland ruled out metastasis, confirming the intracardiac mass as primary ectopic thyroid carcinosarcoma.
- This represents the first documented case of an intracardiac ectopic thyroid carcinosarcoma in any species.
Implications:
- This case expands the known locations for ectopic thyroid carcinosarcomas.
- It underscores the importance of thorough histopathological evaluation for diagnosing rare and complex canine neoplasms.
- Further research may elucidate the origins and behavior of ectopic thyroid tumors in domestic animals.
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