Cytological and

histopathological
diagnosis of round
cell tumor in dogs

Presented by - Payal I. Nirmal

 What is round cell

tumor?
Round cell tumors are the most common type of tumors that develop in dogs.
 It involves cutaneous regions the most.
 A group of highly aggressive malignant tumors composed of relatively small and
monotonous undifferentiated cells.
 Increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio.
 Composed of malignant round cells that are slightly larger or double the size of red
blood cells in air-dried smears.
 Characterized by small, round, relatively undifferentiated cells.
 Differential diagnosis of small round cell tumors is particularly difficult due to their
undifferentiated or primitive character. Tumors that show good differentiation are
generally easy to diagnose, but identification of the diagnostic, morphological
features is difficult when a tumor is poorly differentiated, therefore, no definitive
diagnosis may be possible.
 Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) plays an important role in the diagnosis of
these tumors.
Types of round cell tumor

1) Plasma cell tumor

2) Histiocytomas

3) Mast cell tumor

4) Lymphoma and Lymphosarcoma

5) Transmissible venereal tumor

Flowchart highlighting the main decision-making thought
processes
 o Cytological diagnosis

 Cytology is a quick, easy, and inexpensive diagnostic tool, commonly used for
the diagnosis of neoplastic processes.

 Benefits - The risks of fine-needle aspiration are minimal

- Anesthesia or sedation is often not required
- Aspirated tissue does not require any processing
(results can be obtained more quickly than with histopathology)
 Different methods to collect tissue samples for
cytological examination based on the nature of
the growths.

1) Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) - for superficial nodular

growths
2) Impression smears and scraping smears - for neoplasms with ulcers.
3) Scrapping method – for surgically excised growth

Fine-needle sampling technique: with (left) and without (right) aspiration

 o Histopathological diagnosis

 Histopathology is the examination of samples of whole tissues and is performed on a solid

piece of tissue that has been collected surgically.

 The piece of tissue is prepared through a process called histology by preserving, thinly
slicing or sectioning, and staining the tissue sample with dyes.

 Benefits - focuses on the architecture of the tissue

- provides more information about the tissue than cytology.
- Accuracy of diagnosis is high
 PLASMA CELL TUMOR

Common Appearance Cytological appearance Histological appearance

 Single raised pink nodule on  Cytoplasm: Basophilic in  Abundant Plasma Cells.

head, trunk or limbs moderate amount  Monoclonal Proliferation
 usually not associated  Nucleus: Eccentrically placed;  Presence of Malignant Cells
w/multiple myeloma binucleated and  Infiltration of Tissues
multinucleated cells  Nuclear Atypia: Malignant
 coarsely reticulated to plasma cells may exhibit
stippled chromatin nuclear atypia
 Often a perinuclear clearing or  Russell Bodies: Some plasma
prominent Golgi apparatus cell tumors may contain
observed Russell bodies, which are
eosinophilic inclusions in the
cytoplasm of plasma cells.
 Cytologic appearance of lymphoma (left) compared to
plasmacytoma (right).
Right:
• Neoplastic plasma cells have increased
amounts of deep blue cytoplasm compared to
lymphoma with a more eccentrically placed
nucleus that has a coarser or reticular
chromatin pattern.
• Binucleation (black arrow) or multinucleation
• prominent anisokaryosis (green arrows
identify neoplastic cells with larger nuclei).

Left:
• lymphoma cells are medium to large and have a higher N:C ratio and more
finely stippled chromatin compared to the plasmacytoma.
• Yellow arrows identify non-neoplastic small lymphocytes for size Both lymphoma and plasmacytoma may
comparison. display perinuclear clear zones and mitotic
• The green arrow identifies a bizarre mitotic figure figures.
 Histopathological appearance of Plasma cell tumor
19. Some PCTs can infiltrate the subcutaneous tissue
and entrap adipocytes among neoplastic cells.
20. Neoplastic plasma cells often spare the superficial
dermis and dermal-epidermal junction and leave a
grenz zone. Large multinucleate neoplastic cells can be
observed at low magnification throughout the
neoplasm. H&E.
21. Neoplastic plasma cells forming sheets and packets
within the dermis. Large multinucleate neoplastic cells
are scattered throughout (arrows).
22. Neoplastic plasma cells in a distinct cell
arrangement characterized by pseudoglandular
structures surrounding blood.
23. Neoplastic plasma cells in a distinct cell
arrangement characterized by pseudoglandular
structures surrounding eosinophilic material.
24. Neoplastic plasma cells with a moderate amount of
eosinophilic and glassy cytoplasm. Nuclei are round-to-
oval to crescent-shape, central or eccentric, and have a
dense chromatin arrangement with single or multiple
nucleoli.
25. Neoplastic plasma cells with a moderate amount of
eosinophilic and glassy cytoplasm with a distinct
perinuclear clear zone.
26. A plasma cell tumor (lower left) partially effaced by
18. PCTs are typically well-demarcated neoplasms that are restricted to
abundant amyloid (asterisk).
the dermis.
 LYMPHOMA AND LYMPHOSARCOMA

Common Appearance Cytological appearance Histological appearance

• Multiple off white or red to Round cells • Proliferation of abnormal

purple nodules in non- Cytoplasm: Scant rim of basophilic lymphocytes
epitheliotropic type cytoplasm; occasionally has low • Lymphoma cells may Vary in
numbers of eosinophilic granules shape and size
Nucleus: Large and round; lymphoma • In lymph node biopsy-
consisting of large- or intermediate- replacement of normal tissue
sized lymphocytes likely has with cancerous cells
prominent nuclei
 Histopathological appearance of Lymphoma
29. Epitheliotropic lymphoma with diffuse
infiltration (right) or distinct clusters (left)
of neoplastic lymphocytes within the
epidermis.
30. Epitheliotropic lymphoma with typical
infiltration of the follicular epithelium.
31. Neoplastic cells in non-epitheliotropic
lymphoma are arranged in cohesive sheets
and packets.
32. Neoplastic lymphocytes with scant
cytoplasm, variably distinct cell margins,
and small-to-medium round nuclei with
dense chromatin in an epitheliotropic
27 Epitheliotropic lymphoma with the characteristic distribution of lymphoma. 33. Neoplastic lymphocytes
neoplastic lymphocytes within the superficial dermis and the dermal- with scant cytoplasm and large, round-to-
epidermal junction. indented nuclei and increased mitotic
28. Non-epitheliotropic lymphoma with sheets of neoplastic lymphocytes activity in a non-epitheliotropic lymphoma.
that efface the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Similar to plasma cell tumors, H&E
an area of uninvolved superficial dermis (grenz zone) is usually present.
 HISTIOCYTOMA
Common Appearance Cytological appearance Histological appearance

• Single or multiple, purple/red • Sheets of uniform round cells • Round or Spindle-Shaped Cells
nodules; often with visceral • Cytoplasm: Moderate rim of pale • Epithelioid Cells: large, polygonal
involvement or periarticular location basophilic cytoplasm; distinguishing cells with abundant eosinophilic
characteristic is clearing of cytoplasm cytoplasm.
at periphery of cell • Mitotic Activity: exhibit low levels of
• Nucleus: Often centrally placed mitotic activity
• As tumors begin to resolve, • Presence of Multinucleated Giant
increasing numbers of small Cells
lymphocytes are seen • Inflammatory Cells: infiltrate of
inflammatory cells, such as
lymphocytes, neutrophils, and
eosinophils.
• Well-Differentiated: Histiocytomas
are well-differentiated and are
considered benign, meaning the cells
resemble normal tissue cells and do
not have the characteristics of
Cytological appearance of Histiocytoma

Left. Note large discrete round to oval cells Right. Higher magnification of
(black arrows) of relatively uniform size histiocytoma cells showing finely
that have a large, round to oval, slightly
etched chromatin with 1-3 small
eccentric nucleus and moderate amount of
cytoplasm. indistinct nucleoli in the nucleus and
abundant, slightly granular, pale
Low numbers of small lymphocytes (green blue cytoplasm.
arrow heads) and a plasma cell (red arrow
head) are present.
 Histopathological appearance of Histiocytoma

36. Neoplastic cells invade the epidermis.

37. Clusters of small lymphocytes are

evident at the base of the tumor.

38. Neoplastic cells forming solid sheets

that almost completely efface the dermal
architecture and are supported by
preexisting collagen bundles.

39. Neoplastic cells with a moderate

amount of round eosinophilic cytoplasm
34. A well-demarcated histiocytoma effaces the dermis and with indistinct cell borders and round
elevates the upper dermis and epidermis, in a characteristic top- nuclei with finely stippled chromatin and 1
heavy configuration. or 2 nucleoli. Occasional mitoses are
present.
35. Sheets of neoplastic cells form loose cords near the dermal-
epidermal junction.
 MAST CELL TUMOR
Common Appearance Cytological appearance Histological appearance

• Single or less often multiple • Cytoplasm: Basophilic in • Cellular atypia – irregulary

white to light yellow or moderate amount, containing shaped and large cells
hemorrhagic masses or plaques; varying numbers of • Higher mitotic index
ulceration common; visceral metachromatic granules • Infiltration of surrounding tissue
involvement possible • Nucleus: Round and centrally leading to local tissue
placed; often chromatin pattern destruction.
and nucleoli cannot be fully • Mast cells granules
evaluated due to intense • Perivascular cuffing by mast cells
granulation
• Eosinophils often seen in dogs
 Cytological appearance of Mast cell tumor

Left. Low grade mast cell tumor has medium discrete Right. High grade mast cell tumor has sparsely granulated
round to oval cells (black arrows) of relatively uniform discrete round cells exhibiting multinucleation (black
size with a medium, round central nucleus partially arrows), bizarre mitotic figure (yellow arrow), and nuclear
observed by numerous small purple granules that fill the atypia featuring multiple prominent nucleoli. Green arrows
abundant cytoplasm identify neutrophils and eosinophils for size comparison.
 Histopathological appearance of Mast cell tumor
7. Grade 1 cutaneous MCT with
scattered neoplastic mast cells among
dermal collagen bundles.
8. Grade 2 cutaneous MCT with
neoplastic mast cells effacing the
dermis and dissecting dermal collagen
bundles.
9. Grade 3 cutaneous MCT with dense
sheets of neoplastic mast cells
completely effacing the dermis.
10. Epitheliotropic cutaneous MCT
with clusters of neoplastic mast cells
within the epidermis (arrows).

11. Neoplastic mast cells from a grade 1 cutaneous MCT are round and have abundant cytoplasm with numerous small
granules and distinct cell margins. Nuclei are round and have densely aggregated chromatin.
12. Neoplastic mast cells from a grade 2 cutaneous MCT are similar to those in grade 1 neoplasms but can have indistinct
cytoplasm with large granules.
13. Neoplastic mast cells from a grade 3 cutaneous MCT are round-to-oval and have evident pleomorphism with abundant
cytoplasm and scant granules.
 TRANSMISSIBLE VENERAL TUMOR

Common Appearance Cytological appearance Histological appearance

• Single or more often multiple • Chromatin pattern is coarse with • TVT cells are typically round to
nodular pedunculated to
occasional binucleation oval
cauliflower-like masses on external
genitalia of sexually active dogs • Moderate amount of pale • Large deeply stained nuclei
basophilic cytoplasm; often • High degree of cellular
contains several small discrete pleomorphism
cytoplasmic vacuoles • High mitotic index
• Presence of numerous
neutrophil within and around the
tumor
 Cytological appearance of TVT

Left. Note large discrete round cells with moderate-sized, Right. Higher magnification of neoplastic cells
round, slightly eccentric nuclei and a moderate amount of showing coarsely stippled chromatin, one or more
pale blue cytoplasm. Green arrows identify neutrophils for small to medium-sized dark nucleoli, cytoplasmic
size comparison. vacuoles (thin red arrow) and a mitotic figure (black
arrow).
 Histopathological appearance of TVT

Section of TVT showing compactly arranged round

to oval shaped cells with vesicular nucleus and
distinct nucleolus
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