Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with conjunctival involvement in a Dobermann dog : A case report

A two-year-old male Dobermann dog was brought to Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with the history of a growth in the right eye. Clinical examination revealed normal vital parameters and all the peripheral lymph nodes were enlarged. Ophthalmic examination of the right eye revealed absence of menace and palpebral reflex and a growth in the junction of palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva with congestion and ulceration. Conjunctivitis, corneal opacity was also noticed. Fine needle aspiration cytology of popliteal lymph node showed large neoplastic lymphoblasts suggestive of lymphoma. Flowcytometry analysis of fine needle aspirated cells revealed 63.7% of cells reacted with CD21 markers indicative of B cell immunophenotype. Ultrasound examination revealed splenomegaly and enlarged thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes. Animal was euthanized as per owner’s request. Gross examination revealed tumor mass noticed in the conjunctiva. Internal gross examination showed whitish grey miliary nodules throughout the parenchyma of spleen, liver and kidney. Histopathological examination of lymph node revealed starry sky appearance and complete evasion of architecture of lymph node by neoplastic cells. Most of the visceral organs were infiltrated with neoplastic lymphoid cells. Lymphoma may be added to the differential diagnoses when dogs show ocular involvement.