A Case Report on Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in an Indigenous Dog

A 12 years-old, male indigenous dog was presented to Shahedul Alam Qaderi Teaching Veterinary Hospital (SAQTVH) in Chattogram, Bangladesh with a large tumour on its right front leg. The histopathological findings of the tumour were highly suggestive of an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS). The tumour was surgically removed from the dog. While there had been no recurrence for 5 months, the patient died 5 months post-operatively. The cause of the death and presence of metastasis could not be confirmed as follow-up investigations were declined by the owner. A histopathological study showed poorly differentiated neoplastic mononuclear cells forming nests in an alveolar pattern. Despite that the limited resources prevented myogenin staining for diagnostic confirmation, the well-contained, defined appearance of the tumour supports the diagnosis of ARMS. This report highlights the challenges in diagnosing and treating ARMS in indigenous dogs and emphasizes the need for further research and diagnostic markers to improve detection and management.