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Read-Only Case Details Reviewed: Oct 2010

JPC SYSTEMIC PATHOLOGY

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

September 2025

I-N04B

Slide A: Signalment (JPC #1869901) Age and breed unspecified dog

HISTORY: Mass from the toe.

HISTOPATHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION: Digit (per contributor): Arising from the hyperplastic and ulcerated epidermis, extending to deep margins, and infiltrating preexisting bone is a densely cellular, unencapsulated, infiltrative neoplasm composed of anastomosing cords, trabeculae, and islands of polygonal cells supported by a moderate collagenous to desmoplastic stroma. Neoplastic cells have distinct cell borders with prominent intercellular bridges, abundant brightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, and an irregularly round to oval nucleus with finely stippled chromatin and 1-3 prominent magenta nucleoli. Anisokaryosis and anisocytosis are moderate and there are 52 mitotic figures per 2.37mm2 with occasional atypical mitotic figures. Neoplastic cells frequently exhibit dyskeratosis characterized by individualized cells within the stratum spinosum with brightly eosinophilic cytoplasm and pyknosis. There are multifocal keratin pearls characterized by brightly eosinophilic central accumulations of compact lamellations of keratin. Within the stroma of the neoplasm, there are low numbers of melanin-laden macrophages, scattered lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Multifocally, neoplastic cells invade and replace preexisting bone in which existing bony trabeculae are lined by increased numbers of osteoclasts in resorption bays (Howship's lacunae) (osteolysis) and multiple foci of woven bone lined by plump osteoblasts (reactive bone formation). There is multifocal ulceration of the overlying epidermis with replacement by a serocellular crust composed of cellular debris, high numbers of neutrophils, hemorrhage, proteinaceous fluid, and fibrin.

MORPHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS: Digit (per contributor): Squamous cell carcinoma, subungual, breed not specified, canine.

Slide B: Signalment (JPC #1619769) Seven-year-old beagle

HISTORY: Abdominal skin from a beagle that was one of a large colony housed in outdoor kennels in Colorado.

HISTOPATHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION: Haired skin, abdomen (per contributor): Arising from a hyperplastic and ulcerated epidermis and extending to the deep dermis is a poorly circumscribed, unencapsulated, infiltrative neoplasm composed of polygonal cells arranged in cords, trabeculae, and islands, with occasional individualized cells supported by a moderate amount of fibrovascular to often desmoplastic stroma. Neoplastic cells have distinct cell borders with prominent intercellular bridges, abundant amphophilic to eosinophilic cytoplasm, irregularly round to oval nuclei with finely stippled chromatin, and 1 to 4 distinct magenta nucleoli. Anisocytosis and anisokaryosis are moderate and mitotic figures average 48 per 2.37mm2 with occasional atypical mitotic figures. Cords and islands often contain central, compact, eosinophilic lamellations of keratin (keratin pearls). Multifocal hair follicles and adnexa are surrounded by numerous lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils. There is focally extensive epidermal ulceration characterized by epidermal loss and replacement by a serocellular crust composed of fibrin, proteinaceous fluid, and neutrophils subtended by, lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes, neutrophils, small caliber blood vessels and numerous fibroblasts contiguous with haphazardly arranged collagen bundles (granulation tissue). The remaining epithelium is markedly hyperplastic characterized by anastomosing rete ridges, an expanded stratum spinosum (acanthosis), and a stratum corneum markedly thickened by parakeratotic and orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. Within the subcutis, there is moderate multifocal hemorrhage, fibrin, and increased clear space (edema).

MORPHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS: Haired skin, abdomen (per contributor): Squamous cell carcinoma, beagle, canine.

Slide C: Signalment (JPC #4090973) 13-year old female domestic European shorthair cat.

HISTORY: Affected skin displayed a plaque-like lesion with irregular edges.

HISTOPATHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION: Haired skin: Approximately 80% of the epidermis is markedly thickened by a poorly demarcated, moderately cellular, unencapsulated, and expansile intraepidermal neoplasm, which extends into the outer root sheath of underlying hair follicles. Within this area, the epidermis is expanded up to 8-10 cell layers thick by a monomorphic population of cells undergoing disorganized maturation and forming broad, nodular rete ridges, which are constrained by a basement membrane. Neoplastic cells have distinct cell borders, an abundant amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm, which occasionally contains granular golden pigment (melanin), irregularly round to oval nuclei with finely stippled chromatin and up to four prominent nucleoli. Anisocytosis and anisocytosis are moderate and mitoses average 12 per 2.37mm2. Multiple follicles lined by neoplastic epithelial cells are empty or contain fragmented hair shafts admixed with lamellated keratin admixed with few neutrophils, amorphous karyorrhectic and cellular debris, scant hemorrhage, and fibrin. The neoplastic epithelium is multifocally eroded with a serocellular and hemorrhagic crust, infiltrated by low numbers of neutrophils, and in these areas, neoplastic epithelial cells are markedly expanded by intracellular edema to variable depths. There is similar but less severe cellular atypia at the periphery of the lesion with less prominent rete ridges and re-establishment of normal epithelial maturation. The superficial dermis is markedly expanded by congested vessels, numerous viable and degenerate neutrophils (also in perifollicular and periadnexal locations), cellular debris, and variable amounts of hemorrhage, edema, and fibrin.

MORPHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS: Haired skin: Bowenoid in situ carcinoma, domestic European shorthair cat, feline.

GENERAL DISCUSSION:

PATHOGENESIS:

TYPICAL CLINICAL FINDINGS:

TYPICAL GROSS FINDINGS:

TYPICAL LIGHT MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS:

ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS:

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS:

COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY:

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