Iran J Vet Surg, Print ISSN: 2008-3033, Online ISSN: 2676-6299

Document Type : Clinical Report

Authors

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

A ten and half-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu-terrier dog was presented with swollen mass in the right pelvic limb. The mass was first noticed by the owner three months prior to the presentation but it had enlarged significantly during the past seven days before presentation resulting in pain and lameness. Clinical examination revealed the presence of a large fluctuant mass with soft tissue consistency in the caudal region of the right stifle joint with pain elicited during joint flexion. A well circumscribed large fatty tumor situated between the semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles was encountered during surgical exploration of the affected area under general anesthesia which was completely removed. Diagnosis of intermuscular lipoma was confirmed based on clinical findings, the gross appearance of the tumor, and the presence of mature adipocytes in histological sections. This report describes clinical signs, physical examination, and diagnostic imaging findings along with surgical treatment of canine intermuscular lipoma, a rare form of lipoma, and benign mesenchymal tumor of adipose tissue situated between muscle bellies which is not locally invasive and does not metastasize. To the best of our knowledge, this type of canine tumor has not been previously reported in Iran.

Keywords

Main Subjects

  1. Thomson MJ, Withrow SJ, Dernell WS, Powers BE. Intermuscular lipomas of the thigh region in dogs: 11 cases. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 1999; 35: 165-167.
  2. Case JB, MacPhail CM, Withrow SJ. Anatomic distribution and clinical findings of intermuscular lipomas in 17 dogs (2005–2010). Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2012; 48: 245-249.
  3. Lamagna B, Greco A, Guardascione A, Navas L, Ragozzino M, Paciello O, Brunetti A, Meomartino L. Canine lipomas treated with steroid injections: clinical findings. Plos One, 2012; 7: 1-5.
  4. Trębacz P, Galanty M. Sciatic neuropathy caused by an intermuscular lipoma in dogs. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 2016; 85: 147-149.
  5. Huppes RR, Dal Pietro N, Wittmaack MC, Sembenelli G, Bueno CM, Pazzini JM, Jark PC, De Nardi AB, Castro JL. Intermuscular lipoma in dogs. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 2016; 44: 1-7.
  6. Crowley JD, Hosgood G, Crawford NV, Richardson JL. Computed tomographic findings, surgical management and postoperative outcomes of large intermuscular lipomas in the hindlimb of 11 dogs. Australian Veterinary Journal, 2020; 98: 135-139.
  7. Thilagar S, Toe I, Hii KL, Sheikh Omar AR, Ching TS. Benign intermuscular lipoma in a bitch. Jurnal Veterinar Malaysia, 2005; 17(2): 25-27.
  8. Boston S. Musculoskeletal neoplasia and limb sparing surgery. In: Tobias KM, Johnston SA, eds. Veterinary Surgery Small Animal. 1st Edn. Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, 2012; 1159-1177.
  9. Liptak JM, Christensen NI. Soft tissue sarcomas. In: Vail DM, Thamm DH, Liptak JM, eds. Withrow & Macewen’s Small Animal Clinical Oncology. 6th edn. Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, 2020; 404-431.
  10. Fletcher CD, Martin‐Bates E. Intramuscular and intermuscular lipoma: Neglected diagnoses. Histopathology, 1988; 12: 275-287.
  11. Volta A, Bonazzi M, Gnudi G, Gazzola M, Bertoni G. Ultrasonographic features of canine lipomas. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound, 2006; 47: 589-591.
  12. Nishida J, Morita T, Ogose A, Okada K, Kakizaki H, Tajino T, Hatori M, Orui H, Ehara S, Satoh T, Shimamura T. Imaging characteristics of deep-seated lipomatous tumors: Intramuscular lipoma, intermuscular lipoma, and lipoma-like liposarcoma. Journal of Orthopaedic Science, 2007; 12: 533-541.
  13. Hendrick MJ. Mesenchymal tumors of the skin and soft tissues. In: Meuten DJ ed. Tumors in Domestic Animals. 5th Edn. John Wiley & Sons Inc., Ames, Iowa, USA, 2017; 142-175.