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Linear Organoid Nevus in A Dog (Pages 69-73)
Linear Organoid Nevus in A Dog (Pages 69-73)
Linear Organoid Nevus in A Dog (Pages 69-73)
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Veterinary Dermatology 2000, 11, 6973
Case report
Linear organoid nevus in a dog
FABIA SCARAMPELLA,* CLAUDIA VON TSCHARNER{ and CHIARA NOLI*
*Via Sismondi 62, 20133 Milano, Italy
{Institut fur Tierpathologie, Langgasstr. 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
(Received 16 March 1998; accepted 5 February 1999)
Abstract A skin lesion classied as linear organoid nevus is reported in a female standard Schnauzer. The
dog was brought to the clinic with multiple hyperpigmented, hyperkeratotic linear or ovoid plaques on the
head, neck, trunk, ears, and limbs. Histological ndings included severe orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, focal
parakeratosis and hyperplasia of both the epidermis and the follicular infundibular epithelium, and marked
sebaceous hyperplasia. No improvement was noted with systemic retinoid therapy. This is the second linear
organoid nevus described in a dog, and the rst report of retinoid therapy for this disease.
Keywords: comedones, dog, linear organoid nevus, nevus, retinoids, sebaceous hyperplasia.
INTRODUCTION
Organoid nevi have been dened in people as
localized faults in development of skin and appendages, that appear at birth, usually on the scalp.1
These lesions, also improperly called `nevus sebaceous', are characterized by an abnormal arrangement
and hyper- or hypoplasia of two or more skin
components that are normally present at the site.1
Linear organoid nevi have been recognized and
studied in human dermatology,2 but only one case
has been reported in veterinary medicine.3 This article
describes another case of linear organoid nevus in a
dog, which has been followed for more than 20
months and treated with systemic retinoids.
CASE STUDY
A 10-month-old female standard Schnauzer was
presented with a history of multiple mildly pruritic
hyperkeratotic plaques, which appeared for the rst
time at 3 months. The lesions were ovoid or linear in
shape, and were present on the head, neck (Fig. 1),
trunk, ears, and limbs. The most impressive lesion was
a linear, 20-cm-long plaque, localized on the medial left
thigh (Fig. 2). All lesions were hyperpigmented,
hyperkeratotic and mildly alopecic. Dilated follicular
ostia were engorged with keratin (comedones), and in
some areas multiple keratin horns were extruding
from them. No signs of systemic disease were present.
A complete haematology and serum biochemical
analysis were within normal limits. Microscopy of
skin scrapings and fungal cultures for dermatophytes were negative. Skin biopsy specimens were
collected by means of a 6-mm biopsy punch, xed in
10% formalin and processed for routine histopathology. On histological examination (Figs 3
and 4) diuse basket-weave, focally compact orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, focal parakeratosis, and
regular epidermal hyperplasia were observed. The
follicular infundibula were dilated with abundant
ortho- and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis, forming
several comedones. Marked hyperplasia of sebaceous glands, pigmentary incontinence and a mild
periadnexal mononuclear inammatory inltrate
were also observed. Due to hyperplasia and abnormal arrangement of at least two skin components
(hair follicles and sebaceous glands) the lesion was
classied as linear organoid nevus. No therapy was
prescribed at this time.
At a subsequent visit 3 months later, the owner
reported increasing pruritus, particularly of the
lesions on the left thigh. Macroscopically the lesions
appeared to be inamed and mildly exudative. Heatxed smears of follicular keratin were stained with a
rapid, modied Wright's stain (Hemacolor, Merck)
and examined microscopically. Many intra- and
extracellular cocci and abundant (more than eight
per high-power eld (HPF)) oval unipolar budding
yeasts, tentatively identied as Malassezia, were present. Because of the presence of bacteria and yeasts, the
dog was treated with amoxycillin and clavulanic acid
(20 mg kg71 twice daily orally) and ketoconazole (10
mg kg71 once daily orally) for 3 weeks. A 2.5%
benzoyl peroxide shampoo (Fatroxyd, Fatro) was
also prescribed once a week for 3 weeks. Good results
in controlling hyperkeratosis and almost complete
absence of pruritus were obtained with this treatment.
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Linear organoid nevus in a dog
71
reported during the treatment period. Tear production measured via a Schirmer tear test monthly was
normal, and the plasma triglyceride level was in the
normal range at the end of the therapy. Unfortunately, no clinical improvement of the lesions was
observed during this period.
The lesions were sampled for histopathology again
at the end of the 4 months of retinoid therapy (and 12
months after the rst biopsies). At histopathologic
examination, the appearance of the lesions was the
same as in the previous sections, except for the
presence of a more severe mononuclear inammatory
inltrate around the hyperplastic sebaceous glands,
an increased epidermal papillomatosis, and a marked
hypergranulosis of the epidermis and the follicular
infundibulum (Fig. 5).
At 24 months of age the dog was given
isotretinoin at a dosage of 2 mg kg71 once daily
per os for 3 months. No side eects were reported
during the treatment period. The tear production
measured via the Schirmer tear test monthly was
normal and the plasma triglyceride level was in the
normal range at the end of the treatment period.
No improvement was obtained with this therapy.
Permission for further skin biopsies was refused by
the owner.
In order to prevent secondary infections and
comedo formation, the lesions are currently treated
with weekly 2.5% benzoyl peroxide shampoo. How-
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Linear organoid nevus in a dog
K. F., eds. Dermatology in General Medicine, 3rd edn.
McGraw-Hill Information Services Company, New
York, 1987: 38.
10. Scott, D.W., Yager-Johnson, J.A., Manning, T.O. et al.
Nevi in the dog. Journal of the American Animal
Hospital Association 1984; 20: 50512.
73
Resume Une lesions cutanee classiee comme un naevus organo de lineaire est rapportee chez un Schnauzer
femelle. Le chien a ete presente a la consultation pour de multiples plaques, hyperpigmentees, epaisses,
lineaires ou ovo des, localisees sur la tete, le cou, le tronc, les oreilles et les membres. Les examens
histopathologiques ont montre une hyperkeratose orthokeratosique marquee, une parakeratose focale, une
hyperplasie de l'epiderme et de l'epithelium folliculaire, et une hyperplasie sebacee severe. Aucune
amelioration n'a ete observee avec un traitement a base de retino des systemiques. Il s'agit du second cas
de naevus organo de lineaire decrit chez le chien, et du premier rapport de l'utilisation des retino des pour cette
dermatose. [Scarampella, F., Von Tscharner, C. et Noli, C. (Un naevus organo de lineaire chez un chien.)
Veterinary Dermatology 2000; 11: 6973.]
Resumen Se describe una lesion clasicada como nevo organoide linear en un Schnauzer estandard hembra.
El perro fue llevado a la consulta con multiples placas lineares u ovoides, hiperpigmentadas e
hiperqueratoticas en la cabeza, cuello, tronco, pabellones auriculares y extremidades. Los hallazgos
histologicos inclu an hiperqueratosis ortoqueratotica intensa, paraqueratosis focal, hiperplasia de la epidermis
y del epitelio del infund bulo folicular e hiperplasia sebacea marcada. No se observo mejor a con terapia
sistemica de retinoides. Este es el segundo nevo linear organoide descrito en un perro, y la primera descripcion
de terapia con retinoides para esta enfermedad. [Scarampella, F., Von Tscharner, C. y Noli, C. (Nevo
organoide linear en un perro.) Veterinary Dermatology 2000; 11: 6973.]
Zusammenfassung Eine als linearer organoider Naevus klassizierte Hautlasion bei einem
Schnauzerweibchen wird beschrieben. Der Hund wurde mit mehreren, hyperpigmentierten,
hyperkeratotischen, linearen oder ovoiden Plaques auf Kopf, Nacken, Rumpf, Ohren und Beinen in der
Klinik vorgestellt. Histologische Befunde ergaben schwere orthokeratotische Hyperkeratose, fokale
Parakeratose, Hyperplasie der Epidermis und des follikularen Infundibulumepithels und ausgepragte
Talgdrusenhyperplasie. Systemische Retoinoidtherapie fuhrte nicht zur Besserung. Dies ist der zweite
Bericht eines linearen organoiden Naevus beim Hund und der erste Bericht der Retinoidtherapie.
[Scarampella, F., Von Tscharner, C. und Noli, C. (Linearer Organoider Naevus bei einem Hund.)
Veterinary Dermatology 2000; 11: 6973.]