Giant and potentially malignant bullae in a dog

BACKGROUND

Primary lung neoplasms are, frequently represented by solid, solitary, or multiple formations. However, malignant cavitary lesions may be presented as lung adenocarcinomas. Those malignant lesions differ from benignant bullae by the thickness heterogeneity of its surrounding shape.

CASE DESCRIPTION

The present clinical case reports a 14-year-old female dog, of mixed breed, with an increase in the coughs frequency, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. A chest X-ray was taken, a large emphysematous cystic area was found, with thickened and irregular walls located in the left caudal pulmonary lobe, which measured 8 × 7.5 × 3 cm, and rejected the bronchial branch corresponding to the left caudal pulmonary lobe, in addition to thickening of the bronchial walls, compatible with bronchopathy. The tomographic examination of the cavity showed an air content structure, oval to round in shape, with irregular thick hyperattenuating walls measuring approximately 0.4 cm in thickness, occupying more than 30% of the left hemithorax, and pulmonary lobectomy was chosen. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma, with the presence of sparse areas of necrosis and dystrophic calcification.

CONCLUSION

The present case successfully diagnosed a malignant bulae, after a surgical remove. The tomographic finds although not confirmatory, suggest a malignant component by the shape and thickness of its wall. The tomographic exam is of great importance, because only through it, it is possible to evaluate if there is lymph node or pleural involvement or the presence of small metastasis foci. There is indication for surgery and histopathological examination of the piece for a definitive diagnosis.

The arboreal component of a dry forest in Northeastern Brazil

The dry forests of northeastern Brazil are found near the coastal zone and on low, isolated mountains inland amid semi-arid vegetation. The floristic composition of these dry montane forests, as well as their relationship to humid forests (Atlantic forest sensu stricto) and to the deciduous thorn woodlands (Caatinga sensu stricto) of the Brazilian northeast are not yet well known. This paper sought to determine if the arboreal plants in a dry forest growing on a low mountain in the semi-arid inland region (Serra Negra, 8° 35’ - 8° 38’ S and 38° 02’ - 38° 04’ W) between the municipalities of Floresta and Inajá, state of Pernambuco have the same floristic composition and structure as that seen in other regional forests. In fifty 10 x 20 m plots all live and standing dead trees with trunk measuring > 5 cm diameter at breast height were measured. Floristic similarities between the forest studied and other regional forests were assessed using multivariate analysis. The results demonstrate that the dry forest studied can be classified into two groups that represent two major vegetational transitions: (1) a humid forest/dry forest transition; and (2) a deciduous thorn-woodland/ dry forest transition.