Reactive histiocytosis in a Doberman pinscher dog presenting as a sub-lingual mass

Lingual lesions are relatively uncommon in dogs and are mostly represented by neoplasms and glossitis secondary to trauma or infections. Reactive histiocytosis is an uncommon, poorly understood, reactive disorder characterized by proliferation of activated, interstitial, dendritic, antigen-presenting cells associated with lymphocytes and neutrophils with a specific angiocentric orientation and occasional angioinvasion and angiodestruction. Clinically, the disease has a waxing and waning behavior with possible response to treatment and regression, or progression to multiple lesions and internal organ involvement. This case report describes an unusual sublingual presentation of reactive histiocytosis in a Miniature Pinscher dog. The diagnosis was obtained by clinical and histopathological exclusion of other causes, detection of the characteristic microscopic growth pattern, and by immunocytochemistry. Histiocytic cells were vimentin, CD18, CD11c, and CD1c positive consistent with a dendritic cell origin. Anti-BCG stain (Bacillus Calmette and Guerin) was negative for etiological agents. The dog was treated with oral administration of tetracycline and niacinamide during an 8-month period. There was no indication of recurrence of the sublingual mass 2-years following treatment.