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Primary left ventricular hemangiosarcoma diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy in a dog
B W Keene1, J E Rush, A J Cooley
1Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|December 1, 1990
Summary
A novel endomyocardial biopsy technique diagnosed hemangiosarcoma, an infiltrating heart tumor, in a dog presenting with congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. This method aids in differentiating such tumors from canine dilated cardiomyopathy.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Canine Oncology
- Diagnostic Pathology
Background:
- Congestive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias are common in dogs.
- Canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a frequent cause, characterized by ventricular dilation and hypokinesis.
- Infiltrating myocardial tumors can mimic DCM, posing diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- An 8-year-old Golden Retriever presented with recent-onset congestive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias.
- Echocardiography showed a thickened, hypokinetic left ventricular free wall.
- Endomyocardial biopsy revealed neoplastic cells consistent with hemangiosarcoma infiltrating the myocardium.
Findings:
- Fluoroscopically guided transarterial endomyocardial biopsy successfully diagnosed an infiltrating myocardial hemangiosarcoma.
- The tumor infiltration mimicked the echocardiographic and clinical signs of canine dilated cardiomyopathy.
- The dog's condition deteriorated, and necropsy confirmed the diagnosis and primary tumor site.
Implications:
- Endomyocardial biopsy is a valuable diagnostic tool for infiltrating myocardial tumors in dogs.
- This technique can differentiate rare neoplastic conditions from more common cardiomyopathies.
- Accurate diagnosis of myocardial tumors is crucial for understanding prognosis and potential treatment strategies in canine cardiology.