By Dr Kerry Freel and Roberio Gomes Olinda

A 13-year-old Jack Russell terrier presented with a fast-growing, non-painful dermal swelling on the hind leg that had been present for 3 weeks. Both fine needle aspirates for cytology and a further excisional biopsy were taken for analysis. 

The FNA preparation was sent to the laboratory at Poulton and then scanned using our 3D Histech digital scanner. Images such as the one below were then analysed by our experienced, international team, including cytologist, Roberio Gomes Olinda.

Figure 1: The stained and scanned digital cytology image shows the aspirate taken from the mass showing atypical adipocytes, lipoblast and more spindloid mesenchymal cells. An initial diagnosis of cutaneous liposarcoma was made on these findings.

To enable a definitive diagnosis, determine a prognosis and ascertain if surgical margins were achieved, an excisional biopsy was recommended in the initial report. The presenting veterinary surgeon was then able to undertake the surgery and submitted the mass to the same laboratory for histopathological preparation and evaluation. Once again, the digital scanner was able to scan prepared haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections and experienced histopathologist, Kerry Freel was able to confirm the diagnosis.

Fig 2: H&E, Digital scanned image of the submitted mass, a liposarcoma showing mature adipocytes admixed with neoplastic lipoblasts and mesenchymal cells.

Fig 3: Higher magnification image of liposarcoma showing malignant lipoblasts and mesenchymal tissue.

Figure 2 & 3: H&E, Liposarcoma. The nodular mass is comprised of large round to polygonal cells in solid sheets. They have distinct cell borders, and many contain a single well-defined clear intracytoplasmic vacuole which displaces the nucleus eccentrically (mature adipocytes). Fig. 3 shows a higher power scan that shows numbers of admixed smaller cells with centralised large round nuclei and numerous delicate intracytoplasmic lipid droplets.

Liposarcomas are malignant, locally invasive neoplasms of adipocytes. The tumours consist of malignant lipoblasts and mesenchymal tissue and are soft-tissue neoplasms. These tumours are primarily confined to the subcutaneous tissue of the skin, but primary tumours are also seen in the tongue, intestines, bone, spleen and liver. Metastases have been reported in some cases (to the lung, liver and bone) but these are considered rare occurrences. Excision with clear margins is often curative and, in this case, clear margins have been achieved around the mass.

The diagnosis was confirmed as a liposarcoma on the histopathology, and surgical margins reported that the mass was fully excised. Digital pathology allows for accurate measurements of surgical margins of masses that are removed surgically as well as comparison of both cytological and histopathological findings. 

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