Three dogs of different breeds, ages, and genders were presented with pale mucous membranes, depression, anorexia, and splenomegaly. Observed were severe normocytic, nor-mochromic, nonregenerative anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. Blood smears contained large, atypical cells with blue vacuolated cytoplasm, cytoplasmic blebs, round to oval central nuclei, and elevated numbers of cytoplasmic fragment resembling macroplatelets. Bi- and multinucleated atypical cells were found mainly in spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. A final diagnosis of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMegL) was made based on morphology and positivity to the megakaryocyte-derived cell-specific markers von Willebrand factor and CD61. In case nos. 1 and 2, no treatment was initiated, and the dogs died on days 4 and 3, respectively. Case no. 3 received supportive therapy with prednisone, and after a brief improvement the dog died spontaneously 35 days after initial presentation. Only 11 cases of AMegL have been reported in dogs, and the specific diagnostic criteria have not been well established. The presence of vacuolization, cytoplasmic blebs, central round nuclei, cytoplasmic fragments, and multinucleated cells in these three cases were considered useful to differentiate AMegL from other hematopoietic neoplasms.
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September/October 2010
Case Reports|
September 01 2010
Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia in Dogs: A Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature
Stefano Comazzi, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVCP;
Stefano Comazzi, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVCP
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria (Comazzi, Gelain, Roccabianca), University of Milan, via Celoria 10, Milan, 20133 Italy
Nerviano Medical Science (Bonfanti), via Pasteur 10, Nerviano, Milan 20014 Italy
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Maria E. Gelain, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVCP;
Maria E. Gelain, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVCP
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria (Comazzi, Gelain, Roccabianca), University of Milan, via Celoria 10, Milan, 20133 Italy
Nerviano Medical Science (Bonfanti), via Pasteur 10, Nerviano, Milan 20014 Italy
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Ugo Bonfanti, DVM, Diplomate ECVCP;
Ugo Bonfanti, DVM, Diplomate ECVCP
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria (Comazzi, Gelain, Roccabianca), University of Milan, via Celoria 10, Milan, 20133 Italy
Nerviano Medical Science (Bonfanti), via Pasteur 10, Nerviano, Milan 20014 Italy
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Paola Roccabianca, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVP
Paola Roccabianca, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVP
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria (Comazzi, Gelain, Roccabianca), University of Milan, via Celoria 10, Milan, 20133 Italy
Nerviano Medical Science (Bonfanti), via Pasteur 10, Nerviano, Milan 20014 Italy
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J Am Anim Hosp Assoc (2010) 46 (5): 327–335.
Citation
Stefano Comazzi, Maria E. Gelain, Ugo Bonfanti, Paola Roccabianca; Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia in Dogs: A Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1 September 2010; 46 (5): 327–335. doi: https://doi.org/10.5326/0460327
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