Generalized Nodular Dermatofibrosis in the Absence of Renal Neoplasia in an Australian Cattle Dog

Abstract

A 13-year-old, spayed, female Australian Cattle Dog had at least a 10-year history of numerous subcutaneous nodules for which fine-needle aspiration and cytologic evaluation were nondiagnostic. Abdominal ultrasound 3.5 months before necropsy detected a small left kidney but no cysts or neoplasms. At gross necropsy, innumerable, firm, round to oval, white, 0.25 to 2 cm masses were detected throughout the subcutaneous tissues of the axial and appendicular skeleton, epimysium of numerous muscles, and parietal peritoneum of the lateral abdominal body wall. The left kidney was approximately half the size of the right, and there was severe bilateral renal medullary (papillary) necrosis. Histologically, the subcutaneous nodules were well-demarcated masses of mature, hypocellular collagen that were consistent with previous reports of nodular dermatofibrosis and renal cystadenomas or cystadenocarcinomas. In addition to diffuse acute medullary necrosis, both kidneys were affected by severe chronic lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis. This is the first known report of nodular dermatofibrosis in a dog without renal cysts, cystadenoma, or cystadenocarcinoma.