Diagnosis and palliative therapy of mycosis fungoides in a Golden Retriever

A rare cutaneous form of lymphoma in a 14-year-old female Golden Retriever is described. The dog was presented with eczematous, exudative skin lesions. The initial histopathological diagnosis of lymphoma was made using a skin biopsy and was confirmed as a CD3(+) T-Cell lymphoma by immunohistochemistry. No pathological findings were present on ultrasonography of the abdominal cavity and chest radiographs. An increased activity of alkaline phosphatase and a monocytosis were noted. The skin lesion went into remission for two months with prednisolone, isotretinoin and linoleic acid. Thereafter, the patient showed generalised lymphadenopathy as well as generalised nodular alterations of the skin. A blood smear in which neoplastic cells could be found confirmed the Sezary syndrome present in this patient. Four months after the initial diagnosis, the patient deteriorated dramatically. The dog was euthanized on account of its very poor prognosis. Epitheliotropic lymphoma is an important differential diagnosis of eczematous skin lesions. The early stages may be mistaken for allergy, sarcoptic mange or lupus erythematosus.