Cytological evaluation of extra-genital cutaneous form of transmissible venereal tumour in a prepubertal dog

Abstract

A seven-month-old non-descript female dog was presented with multiple nodular lesions disseminated over the body. The nodules has increased in size according to owner for the past one month. Physical examination of the dog was done and a fine needle aspiration was done to rule out tumour. Cytologic preparations of the lesions revealed a uniform population of discrete round to oval cells with coarse chromatin, and lightly basophilic cytoplasm that contained multiple distinct vacuoles. Frequent mitotic figures and occasional lymphocytes were also observed. Which was suggestive of cutaneous transmissible venereal tumour (TVT). This is an unusual form of TVT and unique without mucosal involvement. Despite the atypical clinical presentation, response to chemotherapy with vincristine was excellent, leading to regression.