The complete blood count and caninemast cell tumor. A retrospective survey in a veterinary teaching hospital in Tuscany, Italy

Complete blood count (CBC) modifications in canine mast cell tumor (cMCT) are described in dogs showing
\nbone marrow involvement. However, few data are available for dogs affected by MCT in other stages than
\nstage IV MCTs [1-2].
\nThe aims of this study were: 1- to investigate the frequency of cMCT in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital
\n(VTH) of Tuscany, Italy; 2- to assess if breed, gender and sexual status were associated with the frequency
\nof cMCT; 3- to evaluate the association between each CBC parameters and clinical variables in cMCT.
\nDogs with cyto/histological diagnosis of cutaneous MCT were enrolled. All dogs were staged with
\nabdominal ultrasound and 3-view chest X-rays. Fine-needle biopsy of the regional lymph node (LN) was
\nperformed if LN was palpable or seen at ultrasonography. Fine-needle biopsy of liver and spleen was
\nperformed in high-risk MCT (relapsing MCT, inguinal/perineal MCT, large or ulcerated MCT, Patnaik GIII or
\nKiupel high-grade MCT, presence of nodal metastasis), and if ultrasonography alterations were detected or
\nif requested by clinicians. Bone marrow cytology was performed in IV-stage MCT and if severe peripheral
\nblood cytopenia was found. To investigate frequency of cMCT, dogs with MCT have been selected from our
\nVTH database. To assess breed, gender and sexual status specific frequencies in cMCT, Odds Ratio (OR) with
\nmatched dogs without MCT (n. 13,077) in our VTH database has been performed. Dogs were divided in
\nthese subgroups: neutered (30)/intact (68), male (47)/female (51), age based on the 25th-, 50th- and 75thpercentile,
\npresence of ulceration (15/89), occurrence of LN (28/88), occurence of visceral metastasis
\n(12/88), and clinical stage (5 stage 0, 26 stage I, 8 stage II, 37 stage III, 12 stage IV). Each single parameter of
\nCBC was used as an independent variable and analyzed statistically for each subgroup of dogs (t-student or
\nif appropriate Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests).
\nFrequency of cMCT was 0.77% (98/13,175). Among purebreds, Boxer (OR 7.2), Pitt Bull (OR 5.4), French
\nBulldog (OR 4.4) and Labrador Retriever (OR 2.6) were considered the most predominant. Neutered dogs
\nwere also predominant compared to intact dogs (OR 2.1). Up to 67% (66/98) patients had CBC results in the
\nreference ranges. The most common CBC abnormalities were anemia (25%) and leukocytosis/penia (17%).
\nAny hematological abnormalities were not significantly different when analyzed for sex, age, presence of
\nulceration, occurrence of lymph node or visceral metastasis, and clinical stage.
\nThese findings suggest that some breeds and the neutered status could be at increased frequency for
\ncMCT. As all dogs came from a small area of Italy, a comprehensive examination of inbreeding and gene
\ncode associated with cMCT development could suggest a genetic predisposition. As reported in the
\nliterature, many dogs with MCT show CBC results in the reference ranges. Any single hematological variable
\nwas not associated with specific clinical findings or disease stage, suggesting a minimal role of CBC in the
\noverview of cMCT.
\n[1] Endicott MM, Charney SC, McKnight JA, et al. Clinicopathological findings and results of bone marrow aspiration in
\ndogs with cutaneous mast cell tumours: 157 cases (1999-2002). Vet Comp Oncol. 2007;5(1):31-37. [2] Marconato L,
\nBettini G, Giacoboni C, et al. Clinicopathological features

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