Gross changes in spleen size and shape are frequently recognized in dogs, and splenectomy is the usual measure adopted in such cases. This study includes the changes observed in spleen samples excised from dogs. Cases were evaluated on the basis of general, clinical, and histopathological findings. In the 2000-2010 period, 9085 samples of canine tissues were evaluated, 179 (2%) of which were taken from total surgical spleen removal. The mean age of dogs studied was 9.9 years. A conclusive diagnosis was obtained in 173 spleen samples, of which 120 (69.3%) were neoplastic disorders and 53 (30.6%), non-neoplastic diseases. Malignant changes corresponded to 92.5% (111/120) of the neoplastic cases, and benign ones to 7.5% (9/120). The main changes observed in spleen samples were hemangiosarcoma 44.1% (79/179), nodular lymphoid hyperplasia 20.1% (36/179), fibrosarcoma 10.6% (19/179), hemangioma 3.9% (7/179), and immune-mediated hemolytic diseases 3.9% (7/179), apart of different metastatic neoplasms 3.3% (6/179).
Spleen; dogs; histopathology
