Neoplastic angioendotheliomatosis in a dog: an angiotropic lymphoma

Neoplastic angioendotheliomatosis was diagnosed in a nine-year-old, intact male German Shorthaired Pointer exhibiting progressive neurological signs over a six-month period. At necropsy, there was multifocal asymmetric, hemorrhagic necrosis within the cerebral hemispheres, centrum semiovale, caudate nucleus, and internal capsule. Histologically, there was extensive intravascular proliferation of pleomorphic mononuclear cells within the brain and multiple parenchymatous organs. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the absence of intercellular junctions between neoplastic cells. These cells were not attached to the vascular lining endothelium; Weibel-Palade bodies and a basement membrane were lacking. By indirect immunofluorescence, positive cytoplasmic staining of intravascular neoplastic cells for IgG was demonstrated. Peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique for Factor VIII related antigen was negative. As in man, this rare neoplastic disorder appears to be a lymphoma, apparently of the B cell line.