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Published on: April 22, 2019
Cytomorphometry of canine cutaneous histiocytoma
Insights
Canine cutaneous histiocytoma regression involves morphologic changes in tumoral Langerhans cells, indicating maturation. Morphometry effectively differentiates these cells from activated macrophages in canine pyogranuloma.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Dermatology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Canine cutaneous histiocytoma is a common skin tumor of histiocytic origin.
- Tumoral Langerhans cells and activated macrophages can exhibit similar morphologies.
- Understanding cellular changes during tumor regression is crucial for diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To perform a morphometric analysis of tumoral Langerhans cells and activated macrophages in canine skin tumors.
- To investigate cellular and nuclear changes during the regression of canine cutaneous histiocytoma.
- To evaluate the utility of morphometry in distinguishing tumoral Langerhans cells from activated macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Morphometric analysis of cellular and nuclear parameters (size, shape, nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio) was performed.
- Canine cutaneous histiocytoma cases were staged based on lymphocytic infiltration.
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed the histiocytic origin of tumor cells.
Main Results:
- Tumoral Langerhans cells showed increased anisocytosis, anisokaryosis, and pleomorphism with tumor regression.
- Cellular circularity and nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio decreased in tumoral Langerhans cells during regression.
- Activated macrophages were larger with larger nuclei and greater pleomorphism than tumoral Langerhans cells.
Conclusions:
- Tumoral Langerhans cells undergo significant morphologic changes during canine cutaneous histiocytoma regression, reflecting maturation.
- Morphometry is a valuable tool for differentiating tumoral Langerhans cells from activated macrophages in canine skin lesions.
Abstract:
A morphometric analysis of tumoral Langerhans cells and activated macrophages was conducted using canine cutaneous tumors (65 cases of canine cutaneous histiocytoma and 7 cases of pyogranuloma). The histiocytic origin of the tumor cells was confirmed using immunohistochemistry. The parameters of the morphometric analysis included cellular and nuclear size and shape and the nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio; the variability of these features was calculated separately for each tumor. The canine cutaneous histiocytoma group was divided into four stages of regression depending on the intensity of the lymphocytic infiltration. Statistical analysis revealed that the anisocytosis, anisokaryosis and cellular pleomorphism of tumoral Langerhans cells increased, while the cellular circularity and nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio decreased with tumor regression. Activated macrophages of the pyogranuloma were significantly larger, and had larger nuclei, than tumoral Langerhans cells. Furthermore, these activated macrophages showed greater anisocytosis and anisokaryosis and a lower nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio than tumoral Langerhans cells in the first stages of tumor regression. These results indicate that tumoral Langerhans cells undergo morphologic changes during the regression of canine cutaneous histiocytoma, reflecting their maturation and differentiation. Morphometry can be a useful method for distinguishing activated macrophages from tumoral Langerhans cells.
