Abstract
A three-month-old female Holstein–Friesian calf was presented with acute tetraparesis. After neurological examination a multifocal lesion in the central nervous system was suspected with the most pronounced lesions between the third thoracic and the third lumbar vertebrae. Haematological examination revealed moderate anaemia as well as severe thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and leucocytosis. A blood smear and bone marrow aspirate exhibited predominantly blasts with basophilic granulation leading to a diagnosis of acute (myeloid) leukaemia with involvement of the basophilic lineage or an acute basophilic leukaemia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed spinal cord compression; at necropsy, extensive localised haemorrhages extending into the thoracic vertebral canal were found. Histopathology revealed a large population of blast cells in several tissues including the meninges. Due to multifocal detection of neoplastic cells in the vascular system, neoplasia of the haematopoietic system was assumed in agreement with haematological findings. Signs of paresis could be explained by intramedullary spinal cord haemorrhage and myeloid infiltrations of meningeal vessels. In conclusion, despite its rarity, acute myeloid leukaemia with involvement of the basophilic lineage may be considered in diagnosing calves with progressive deteriorating general condition, paresis, leucocytosis with moderate basophilic differentiation or haemorrhagic disorders.
Highlights
Leukaemia is a malignant disease of any cellular element in the peripheral blood or bone marrow i.e., including red blood cells and platelets
A classification of myeloid neoplasms together with acute leukaemia was published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1999 [3] and in 2009 [4]
Clinical diagnosis The clinical diagnosis was acute basophilic leukaemia with associated hypoplastic anaemia and thrombocytopenia causing a haemorrhagic disorder with multifocal involvement of the central nervous system including suspected alterations in the thoracic/lumbar vertebral column
Summary
Leukaemia is a malignant disease of any cellular element in the peripheral blood or bone marrow i.e., including red blood cells and platelets. No neoplastic cells were detected in the CSF Considering these findings, a basophilic leukaemia with multifocal involvement of the central nervous system was suspected including a cervical and thoracolumbar lesion. Clinical diagnosis The clinical diagnosis was acute basophilic leukaemia with associated hypoplastic anaemia and thrombocytopenia causing a haemorrhagic disorder with multifocal involvement of the central nervous system including suspected alterations in the thoracic/lumbar vertebral column. The mitotic rate ranged between zero and six per high power field (400× magnification) depending on the location Severe infiltration of this blastoid cell population was detected in vessels and tissues of muscles (triceps brachii muscle, quadriceps femoris muscle and longissimus dorsi muscle), liver, lungs, spleen, and kidney, as well as in the epi- and pericardium and meningeal vessels of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Bone marrow obtained from the sternum, femoral head, and a rib showed similar cell infiltration with displacement of the original cells
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
