CANINE LYMPHOMA | Kanfe Globuz

The lymphoma (malignant lymphoma or lymphosarcoma ) are a diverse group of neoplasms which originates from lymphoreticular cells.

             They usually arise in lymphoid tissues like lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow. However they may arise in almost any tissue in the body. Lymphoma one of the most common neoplasms in dogs and is one of major (5th cause ) ’cause of canine mortality. Non-Hodgkin’s lymohoma accounts 5% of all new cancer cases in canines.

                Dog breeds which are susceptible to lymphoma are Boxers, Retrievers, Bull Mastiffs, Basset Hounds, Saint Bernards, Scottish terriers, Airedales, Bulldogs. Breeds which are less susceptible are Dash-hounds and Pomeranians.

                Etiology -is unknown and multifactorial. Broadly factors are 1). Genetic and molecular
2). Infectious 3). Environmental ( herbicides and  strong magnetic fields) 4). Immunosuppression

                Lymphomas are classified by various systems out of which (NHC), HCI updated  Kiel system and revised EAL systems are important. But WHO’ s clinical staging system for lymphosarcoma in domestic animals is the most followed system.

                Hypercalcemia and anemia, with CNS depresion are considered to be pathognomonic symptoms. Complete Blood count, biochemistry, urine analysis, Histological and cytological evaluation of lymph nodes  with FNAC technique, Molecular diagnostic techniques (PCR), and clonality assay are methods used for clinical staging  of diasease .

               Lymphoma are treated with radicle surgery followed by palliative radiation, multidrug or single drug chemo therapy for which lymphoma protocol is available.

               Although canine lymphoma has rarely curable, prognosis mainly varies and depends on number of factors such as location of disease, extent of disease, presence or absence of clinical signs, the histologic grade, the immunophynotype  (T cell or B cell ), exposure to previous chemotherapy or corticosteroids and subsequent development of MDR, altered cell death processes ( apoptosis), the proliferation rate of the tumor, the presence of paraneoplasitc conditions and possible gender.