Leucocitosi neutrofila estrema in un gatto con adenocarcinoma mammario e metastasi polmonari e spleniche

A 8-year old female domestic shorthair cat was brought to a referring veterinarian for coughing and dysorexia. Physical examination revealed a single nodular mass involving the right caudal mammary gland and a mild dyspnoea: in spite of these clinical findings, the cat seemed to was well-being. Thoracic radiographs suggested a pulmonary pattern of metastasis. A complete blood cell count revealed an extreme neutrophilic leukocytosis (297.000/μL) and a mild non regenerative anaemia. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of pulmonary nodules was consistent with malignant epithelial neoplasia. One month later, despite therapy, patient’s general condition worsened and the cat was euthanasized. Necropsy and histopathology revealed a primary adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland and a metastatic involvement of spleen and both lungs. A bone marrow aspirate showed myeloid hyperplasia and mild granulocytic dysplasia. Extreme neutrophilic leukocytosis is an uncommon hematological finding which can appear during inflammatory and infective diseases, nonmyelopoietic neoplasms, or chronic myeloid leukemias. In the present case, based on signalament, clinico-pathological findings and necropsy, a paraneoplastic extreme neutrophilic leukocytosis was first suspected.