Canine nasal neuroendocrine carcinoma: case report with a brief review of the literature

Abstract

A mass of approximately 5 × 5 × 5 cm was located on the bridge of the nose, nasal septum, turbinates, and soft and hard palates of a 1-year-old male terrier dog. The skin over the mass was alopecic and ulcerated. Histopathologically, the tissue sections consisted of sheets of neoplastic cells separated by narrow bands of fibrovascular stroma. The neoplastic cells were round to polyhedral with moderate, eosinophilic cytoplasm, and large clear nuclei. Mitotic figures were frequently observed. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were diffusely positive for neuron-specific enolase, but no detectable cellular staining was evident for S-100 protein. Regarding the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of the tissue sections, neuroendocrine carcinoma was concluded in this case.