The mesenchymal tumors, are relatively frequent in different animal species, with higher incidence in pet. The establishment of certain markers for evaluating the malignant or the benign behavior of the histiocytoma represents a very important factor for the therapy strategies.1, 2
The material of present study was represented by 120 neoplasm formations, those were examined in course of two years at the Department of Pathology of the Veterinary Faculty-Cluj. There were 30% (36) tumors of soft connective tissue from these being selected the histiocytic tumors (8 cases). There were described the microscopic characters: vascularization, cytologic aspects. The evaluation of the malignancy parameters was made as follows: the mitotic rate was estimated by the classic method of counting at least 100 nuclei and expressing the mitoses percentage. The mean nucleolus/nuclei number was obtained by counting the nucleoli number in at least 100 nuclei; the nuclear organizers were counted in at least 100 nuclei.
Results
Case No.1: Husky, female, 6 month old. Diagnosis: benign histiocytic tumor. Mitotic rate was 0,54%; the mean number of nucleolus/nucleus was 1,15; the mean number of Ag-NOR/nucleus it was 1,27. Case No.2: mixed bread, female, 1,5 years old. Diagnosis: benign histiocytic tumor. Mitotic rate was 0,52%; the mean number of nucleolus/nucleus was 1,10; the mean number of Ag-NOR/nucleus was 1,24. Case No.3: Boxer, female, 8 years old. Diagnosis: malignant histiocytosis. Mitotic rate was 2,10%; the mean number of nucleolus/nucleus was 1, 60; the mean number of Ag-NOR/nucleus was 6,45. Case No.4: Boxer, female, 8 months old.
Diagnosis
Malignant histiocytosis. Mitotic rate was 2,11 %; the mean number of ucleolus/nucleus was 1,46; the mean number of Ag-NOR/nucleus was 6, 55. Case no.5: Boxer, male, 9 years old. Diagnosis: malignant histiocytosis. Mitotic rate was 2,16%; the mean number of nucleolus/nucleus was 1, 41; the mean number of Ag-NOR/nucleus was 4, 52. Case no.6: mixed bread, male, 2 years old, cutaneous tumor from the left periorbital zone. Diagnosis: malignant histiocytosis. Mitotic rate was 1, 66%; the mean number of nucleolus/nuclei was 1,83; the mean number of Ag-NOR/nucleus was 4, 20. Case no.7: Pitt-Bul, female, 7 years old. Diagnosis: malignant histiocytosis. Mitotic rate was 2, 77%; the mean number of nucleolus/nuclei was 1,58; the mean number of Ag-NOR/nucleus was 5,88. Case no.8: English bulldog, male, 9 years old. Diagnosis: malignant histiocytosis. Mitotic rate was 2,77%; the mean number of nucleolus/nuclei was 1, 22; the mean number of Ag-NOR/nucleus was 5,74.
Conclusions
Mitotic index and the average number of nucleolar organizers/nucleus were higher in malignant tumors. There was a relative positive correlation between mitotic index and the number of nuclear organisators, a very useful marker for revealing the malignancy. The estimation of nucleolar organizators' number could be used as a parameter in order to appreciate the malignant character of tumors of the mesenchymal tissues.
References
1. Affolter, V.K. et al 2002: Vet. Path. 39 (1): 74 -EndChk_ 83.
2. Baba A.I. 2002 -Oncologie comparată, Ed. Academiei Române, Bucharest.