CONCURRENT RENAL ADENOCARCINOMA AND POLYCYTHEMIA IN A DOG

Concurrent renal adenocarcinoma and polycythemia were diagnosed in a 1 9-month-old, female Rhodesian ridgeback. An unusually early presentati on for this neoplasm, it is the second reported case of renal adenocar cinoma in a dog less than two years of age. Concurrent renal adenocarc inoma and polycythemia have been reported previously in four older dog s. In the dog of this report, clinical signs included brick-red mucous membranes, lethargy, a periodic systolic heart murmur, and engorged r etinal vessels. A large retroperitoneal mass and pulmonary metastatic nodules were present at the time of diagnosis. Red blood cell count, p acked cell volume, and hemoglobin concentration were greatly increased (12,940,000 red blood cells/mu l; 73.2%; and 26.6 g/dl, respectively) . Histopathological diagnosis was renal adenocarcinoma. Polycythemia w as the result of excessive erythropoietin production by the neoplasm.