Breed differences in the proportional morbidity of testicular tumours and distribution of histopathologic types in a population-based canine cancer registry.

Histologically verified tumours submitted to the Norwegian Canine Cancer Register from 1990 to 1998 were studied (n=14,401). The proportion of testicular tumours (n=345) was 2.4%, and the breakdown of histological tumour diagnoses is presented. The frequency of the most common histopathological types was 33% interstitial (Leydig), 26.4% Sertoli and 33.9% seminomas/germ cell tumours. The average age at diagnosis was 10 years, but was significantly lower for Sertoli cell tumours (8.6 years) than for the other tumour types. Following a histopathological re-evaluation, 22.5% of the original tumor diagnoses were modified. Proportional morbidity ratios were calculated and individuals from the breeds Shetland sheepdog and Collie were five times more likely to have testicular tumours than the overall average for the registry. Breed differences in the distribution of histopathologic types were observed. Shetland sheepdog and Collie were most commonly diagnosed with Sertoli cell tumours, while all tumours from Norwegian elkhound in this material were seminomas.