Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ are tumours derived from the ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ, which is a group of cells that develop into neurons and other nervous tissue. These tumours most commonly develop from the ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ near the heart.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this, however we most commonly see it in dogs.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Like most tumours, the underlying cause is unknown, but chemodectomas are interesting because they have a strong breed predisposition. In particular, ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ก๐ฒ๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ (short-nosed) dog breeds like Boxer and Boston Terriers have a higher incidence of these tumours.
It is currently thought this predisposition may be related to ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ก๐ฒ๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ง๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐, which is a group of malformations of the airway commonly found in these breeds. These malformations lead to difficulty breathing, and thus chronically poor oxygenation. One of the main jobs of the carotid and aortic bodies is sensing the bloodโs oxygenation level, so having chronic stimulus may predispose these tissues to developing tumours in these breeds. Wild!
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
These tumours typically cause problems due to their location and their size, and are not typically malignant. Carotid body tumours in the neck can compress the esophagus or trachea and cause difficulty swallowing or breathing. Aortic body tumours, found at the base of the heart, can compress the heart and cause heart failure.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
These tumours are often diagnosed when the animal presents with signs of heart failure or a large mass in the neck. From there, ultrasound or X-ray can confirm the presence of a mass, and a biopsy can confirm the diagnosis of a chemodectoma.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Surgical removal would be the best method of treatment, however the location of these tumours often makes it difficult to remove them completely. Thus, these tumours are sometimes ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ (removing some, but not all of the tumour), or the animal is managed with supportive care.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-6) Examples of aortic body tumours at the base of the heart!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 3. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-6 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors Jakowski, Howard, Tyler, Pandiri, Jennings licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
