Gamma delta T-cell large granular lymphocyte lymphoma in a dog

A 2-year and 6-month-old female neutered Labrador Retriever with Horner syndrome, megaesophagus, and a mediastinal mass was referred to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals of the Royal Veterinary College. A large granular lymphocyte (LGL) lymphoma was diagnosed on cytology; flow cytometric analysis revealed a γδ T-cell phenotype (CD3+, CD5+, CD45+, TCRγδ+, CD4-, CD8-, CD34-, CD21-). Chemotherapy was started with a combination of lomustine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisolone, followed by bleyomicin. Euthanasia was elected by the owners, due to progressive deterioration and lack of quality of life, 28 days after diagnosis. This is the first cytologic and immunophenotypic characterization of a canine γδ T-cell lymphoma with LGL morphology and probably of mediastinal origin. The role of chemotherapy in delaying the disease progression remains unknown.