Surgical approach to a large cervical leiomyosarcoma in a female dog - a case report

Resumo

Malignant uterine neoplasms are uncommon in female dogs, and leiomyosarcoma represents a rare presentation, particularly when located in the cervix. This study aimed to report the diagnostic and surgical approach to a large cervical leiomyosarcoma in a geriatric female Poodle with a history of persistent vulvar discharge unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed an expansive, heterogeneous, and vascularized mass whose size hindered determination of its origin. Computed tomography characterized an abdominopelvic mass measuring approximately 17.64 × 8.25 × 8.27 cm, with marked vascularization, extension into the pelvic cavity, and a substantial mass effect on urinary and gastrointestinal structures, with no tomographic evidence of hepatic or splenic metastases. Exploratory celiotomy revealed extensive adhesions involving the urinary bladder, ureters, urethra, and terminal portion of the large intestine. Following dissection and preservation of these structures, the reproductive tract and the mass were resected. Histopathological examination established the diagnosis of cervical leiomyosarcoma with free physical margins, associated with cystic endometrial hyperplasia–pyometra complex and ovarian follicular cysts. During the postoperative period, the patient showed satisfactory clinical and surgical recovery but developed persistent anemia and a marked leukocytic response, remaining under hematological and oncological follow-up. This case demonstrates the importance of computed tomography in the surgical planning of large abdominopelvic masses and highlights the feasibility of resecting a large cervical leiomyosarcoma while preserving adjacent structures.