REBECCA ALLAN
Often the most impressive and captivating cytology smears, are the ones that require us to deliver the worst news and this case was no exception.
Clinical history:
An adult male budgie presented to the veterinarian with a 15-20 mm soft tissue mass in the upper femoral area of the left leg. He was non-weight bearing and had lost a lot of weight.
Laboratory testing:
A fine needle aspirate, taken for cytology, was highly cellular consisting of a population of pleomorphic spindle cells in a light haemorrhagic background. Cells were fusiform to plump to oval, had multiple prominent, often large and angular nucleoli, with variable N:C ratio and moderate to marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. Also observed were numerous, variable sized multinucleated cells and bizarre mitotic figures.
Diagnosis: Sarcoma.
Discussion:
The tumour appeared poorly differentiated with almost every known criteria of malignancy exhibited in an extreme way, suggestive of a high-grade tumour. Histopathology to further define the type of sarcoma, was not done, however a rhabdomyosarcoma or fibrosarcoma would be differentials for a tumour in this location.
Thanks to Todd Halsey of Halifax Veterinary Centre for this interesting case.
