Haemangiosarcoma has been reported in liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen, skin, oral cavity, muscle, peritoneum and subcutaneous tissueb¹,², ³. The present paper reports on the occurrence of multiple haemangiosarcoma in a dog.

A seven years old female Doberman dog carcass was brought for postmortem examination with a history of dullness and depression. Necropsy examination revealed scattered multifocal dark reddish nodules of about 2 × 2 × 2 cm in size on all lobes of lungs, 3 × 3 × 3 cm in size in left auricular endocardium and from 2 × 2 × 2 to 3 × 3 × 3 cm in size on all lobes of liver. Scattered multifocal dark reddish nodules of about 1 × 1 cm were also noticed on the cortical surfaces of both kidneys extending to a depth of about 2 cm. Spleen revealed diffuse variable sized dark reddish nodules (Fig. 1) of about 2 × 2 × 1 cm and 5 × 5 × 5 cm in size on both the surfaces. On incision, these were found to extend into the parenchyma. Ileum revealed dark reddish nodules of about 2 × 2 × 2 cm in size.

Histopathological examination of the nodules of intestine, liver, lungs, kidneys, spleen and heart revealed oval to polyhedral neoplastic endothelial cells lining the blood spaces of varying sizes. Masses of these proliferating cells also infiltrated the intervascular spaces. Mitotic figures were frequent. Based on the histopathological examination, it was diagnosed as haemangiosarcoma (Figs.2,3-4). Lungs showed the neoplastic foci consisting of large plumpy neoplastic endothelial cells with prominent vesicular nuclei, which protruded into the luminal vascular spaces. Liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys and muscular coat of intestine revealed multiple tortuous blood spaces lined by similar plumpy endothelial cells (Figs.2,3-4). The parenchyma adjacent to neoplastic mass showed pressure atrophy and interstitial lymphocytic infiltration. German shepherd was reported to be the most commonly affected breed for haemangiosarcoma^1–4, while the present case was encountered in a Doberman breed. The haemangiosarcoma recorded in liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and spleen, is in agreement with earlier reports²,³. In the present case, the primary site of origin could not be established. However, spleen being the most vascularised organ, it could logically be suspected as the primary site and lesions in other organs might be secondary ones.

Fig. 1:Haemangiosarcoma: Spleen showing nodular growths on the visceral surface

Fig. 2:Haemangiosarcoma of lung showing plumpy neoplastic endothelial cells with prominent vesicular nuclei, protruding into the luminal vascular spaces HE × 80

Fig. 3:Haemangiosarcoma of liver showing tortuous blood spaces lined by plumpy endothelial cells. HE × 80

Fig. 4:Haemangiosarcoma of intestine showing cavernous blood spaces lined by plumpy neoplastic endothelial cells in the muscular coat. HE × 40

Multiple haemangiosarcoma in a dog