CLINICAL COMMUNICATION

Urinary bladder botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma with widespread metastases in an 8-month-old Labrador cross dog

K Gerber^I; P Rees^II

^IPO Box 12064, Die Boord, Stellenbosch, 7613 South Africa
^IISection of Small Animal Medicine, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa

ABSTRACT

An 8-month-old crossbred Labrador retriever was presented with a history and clinical signs suggestive of lower urinary tract obstruction. Laboratory results revealed azotaemia and hyperphosphataemia. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the urinary tract showed a mass at the bladder trigone, hydronephrosis, hyrodureter, and suspected metastases to lymph nodes and the liver. Pulmonary metastasis was identified on thoracic radiographs. A post mortem confirmed metastases to the liver, lungs and regional lymph nodes, as well as to the mesenteric lymph nodes, mediastinum, heart, subcutaneous tissue and several muscle groups. A histopathological diagnosis of metastatic botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma (sarcoma botryoides) was made. A review of the literature shows that, although the bladder trigone is a well documented location for this tumour, this case was unique with its widespread metastases to previously undocumented organs. The incidence, embryology, ultra-sonographic appearance and treatment of this tumour are discussed.

Keywords: botryoid, hydronephrosis, metastasis, rhabdomyosarcoma, stranguria, ultra-sonography, urinary bladder

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Received: January 2008
Accepted: July 2009

*Author for correspondence. E-mail: kgerbervet@gmail.com