Suspected renal interstitial cell tumor causing polycythemia in two dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Oncology
• Nephrology

Background:

• Renal interstitial cell tumors (RICT) are rare in dogs.
• Polycythemia, or an excess of red blood cells, can be caused by various renal tumors.
• The link between RICT and polycythemia has not been previously documented in canine cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case series of two dogs diagnosed with renal interstitial cell tumors (RICT).
• To investigate the association between RICT, elevated serum erythropoietin levels, and polycythemia in dogs.
• To describe the clinical and histopathological findings and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of two dogs with clinical signs of polycythemia.
• Diagnostic evaluation including blood work and histopathology.
• Surgical intervention involving nephrectomy (kidney removal).
• Monitoring of serum erythropoietin levels and packed cell volume post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Both dogs presented with marked polycythemia and elevated serum erythropoietin levels.
• Histopathology confirmed solitary, benign-appearing renal interstitial cell tumors.
• Following surgical removal of the affected kidney, both dogs experienced normalization of erythropoietin levels and polycythemia.

Conclusions:

• Renal interstitial cell tumors (RICT) can be a cause of erythropoietin-mediated polycythemia in dogs.
• Surgical management of RICT can lead to resolution of polycythemia.
• This study highlights a novel association between RICT and polycythemia in veterinary oncology.