Radiographic, Computed Tomographic and Cellular Phenotypic Features of Primary Nasal Transmissible Venereal Tumors in Four Dogs

Abstract Primary nasal canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a rare disease, developed by allografted transmission of neoplastic cells in the nasal cavity. The disease reported quite uncommonly in free roaming dogs with social behaviour of excessive licking and vigorously sniffing the affected parts of the other dogs in an endemic community. A non-resolving chronic epistaxis and/or serosanguinous discharge from nares is a common historical complaint. Usually, cytology of the nasal discharge/epistaxis or fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of nasal tissue is sufficient for definitive diagnosis. Currently, computed tomography scan (CT-scan) is the best modality to check the invasiveness of the disease and perform modified Adams staging of canine nasal tumors. In present study, all four dogs have stage-4 nasal tumors, due to the complete or partial lysis of the cribriform plate and lymphocytoid plasmacytoid (mixed) phenotype of the neoplastic cells based on the cellularity of cytological samples. All four dogs responded well to five cycles of vincristine sulphate and recovered completely from presented clinical signs. Prognosis is good based on the findings of present study.