16/09/2022
12-year-old domestic long hair with a clinical history of multiple discrete dermal masses. On cytologic evaluation, the smears are abundantly cellular and of good to excellent quality. The pale blue background contains a small amount of blood and small amount of lysed nuclear and cellular debris. A discrete cell population is present in large numbers, and these cells have a small to moderate amount of pale to medium blue cytoplasm and the nuclei are round to slightly irregular in outline with course, stippled to vesicular chromatin and occasional large, indistinct nucleoli. The cells are approximately two times neutrophil diameter. Also present are scattered small lymphocytes. Frequent mitoses are seen and there are moderate numbers of macrophages.
The cytologic features are most suggestive of a diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoma. Although lymphoma is common in cats, the cutaneous form is considered rare. Clinically, cutaneous lymphoma can appear as nodules, masses, regions of ulceration, and at times appear as areas of skin with flakes, alopecia or discolouration.
A diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoma requires further evaluation of the patient for multiorgan involvement. There is no cure at this time, however, medical management with use of chemotherapy can prolong survival times depending on the presence of multiorgan involvement.
Immunocytochemistry can be performed on the cytology slides to assist in determining the immunophenotype of the lymphocytes, B-cell vs T-cell. Thank you to our amazing clinical pathologist for the fantastic report and to
