A case report on alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in an indigenous dog

Abstract

A 12 years-old, male indigenous dog was presented to Shahedul Alam Qaderi Teaching Veterinary Hospital (SAQTVH) in Chattogram, Bangladesh with a large tumor on its right front leg. The histopathological findings of the tumor revealed as alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS). The tumor was surgically removed from the dog, while there had been no recurrence for five months, the patient died five months post-operatively. The cause of the death would be metastasis which could not be confirmed due to lack of follow up. A histopathological study showed poorly differentiated neoplastic mononuclear cells forming nests in an alveolar pattern. This is the first incidence of ARMS in an indigenous dog in Bangladesh. Despite the limited resources prevented myogenin staining for diagnostic confirmation, the well-contained, defined appearance of the tumor supports the diagnosis of ARMS. This report highlights the challenges in diagnosing and treating ARMS in indigenous dogs and emphasizes the need for further research and diagnostic markers to improve detection and management.