Lipomatosis of the canine parotid gland: case report with a literature review.

In this report, we describe a case of lipomatosis in the left parotid gland of an eight-year-old female Shetland sheepdog and review the relevant literature. Preoperative diagnosis of lipomatosis with Tru-Cut biopsy presented difficulties in this case. The postoperative diagnosis was based on the gross appearance of a non-infiltrative, circumscribed swollen mass in the parotid gland and the histological appearance of normal adipocytes that infiltrated into the parotid gland without involving surrounding structures. Additionally, flotation of the whole parotid gland in formalin solution together with well-maintained residual lobulation and a well-maintained configuration on the cut surface were identified as subsidiary characteristics of lipomatosis of the parotid gland. Lipomatosis of the parotid gland has been rarely reported in dogs and is a poorly understood condition.

Fat-containing tumors and tumor-like lesions of salivary glands are rare in domestic animals[1],[2],[3], with the overall incidence of salivary tumors in dogs and cats reported to be 0.17%[1]. Referring to the WHO International Histological Classification of Tumors of Domestic Animals, no benign or malignant lipomatous tumors have been reported in animals[4], and it is probable that cases reported as lipoma were examples of uncommon tumor-like lesions, that is, lipomatosis (syn. fatty infiltration, lipomatous infiltration)[5]. A comparative review of salivary gland conditions in humans indicates that fat-containing tumors and tumor-like lesions of these glands are uncommon and that lipomatosis (syn. interstitial lipomatosis, diffuse lipomatosis, fatty infiltration, fatty replacement) leading to clinical swelling of a gland or even necessitating surgery is also rare[6].

A unilateral mass (9.0×7.0×1.5 cm) found in the left parotid gland of an eight-year-old female Shetland sheepdog was excised surgically at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Azabu University, Japan. A preoperative duration of more than 20 months had passed since the owner’s first observation of a subcutaneous mass with a maximum dimension of less than 1 cm in the left parotid region (Fig. 1). The mass grew slowly prior to excision, and the patient was administered a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (piroxicam) as the only treatment, with follow-up before surgery. The dog was not obese (BW 12.9 kg), and lipomas at other sites were not reported. On the first presentation at Azabu University, the dog exhibited no clinical symptoms. Clinicopathologically, ultrasonography showed that the mass had an apparent circumscribed capsule that radiography indicated did not infiltrate into the bone. Tru-Cut biopsy was performed a week before surgery. Preoperative diagnosis with Tru-Cut biopsy was difficult and the histology is not confirmative for this condition. The histopathological findings were “scattered serous lobules (probably of salivary gland origin) between mature lipid cells and hemorrhagic foci.”

Fig. 1.

Dog with parotid infiltrative lipoma. The image was taken at first presentation at Azabu University. The dog was presented for surgery of a unilateral subcutaneous mass located near the base of the left ear.

The surgically excised swollen left parotid gland had a flat and smooth surface without distinct fibrous encapsulation. The cut surface of the parotid gland was swollen, although its residual lobulation and configuration were well maintained (Fig. 2). When the entire parotid gland was fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, the parotid gland floated in the fixative solution, probably because of a high fat content.

Fig. 2.

A surgically excised swollen left parotid gland. The surface is flat and smooth and without distinct encapsulation. The lobulation and configuration on the cut surface are well maintained. Scale bar = 2 cm.

Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were processed routinely for histopathological examination. Three- to four-micrometer-thick sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H. E.), and selected sections were stained with azan stain and Watanabe’s reticulin impregnation. Additional sections were also subjected to immunohistochemistry in order to analyze the proliferative activity, using primary antibodies against the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (prediluted; Nichirei Biosciences, Tokyo, Japan) and Ki-67 (prediluted; Dako Japan, Kyoto, Japan). Labeled antigens were detected by using a Histofine Simple Stain MAX PO (MULTI) kit (Nichirei Biosciences). Each antibody was visualized using 3-3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB, Nichirei Biosciences), and slides were counterstained with Mayer’s hematoxylin.

On microscopic examination, individual or variously-sized sheets of mature adipocytes, with abundant clear cytoplasm and eccentrically located blunt nuclei, diffusely infiltrated both inter- and intralobularly. Adipose tissue occupied the greater proportion of the parotid gland (Fig. 3), but little morphological change was observed in the remaining serous acini and ducts (Fig. 4). The periphery of the parotid gland was smooth and covered with a thin collagen fiber capsule at intervals (Fig. 5). There was no infiltration of adipocytes to adjacent tissue. The swollen parotid gland was diagnosed as a lipomatosis.

Fig. 3.

Adipose tissue occupied the greater proportion of the parotid gland. H. E. Scale bar = 500 μm.

Fig. 4.

Well-differentiated adipocytes diffusely infiltrated into and between serous lobules. There are few morphological changes in the remaining serous acini and ducts. H. E. Scale bar = 50 μm.

Fig. 5.

A thin collagen fiber capsule around the swollen left parotid gland. Azan stain. Scale bar = 200 μm.

The immunohistochemically stained PCNA and Ki-67 slides were analyzed by calculating the average percentage of positive cells in thirty randomly selected high-power fields for each marker for the present case, lipomas (n= 5), infiltrative lipomas (n=2), and normal adipose tissue (n=5). The mean percentage of immunohistochemical PCNA expression was 11.3%, and that for Ki-67 was less than 1%. The data are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Expression of PCNA and Ki-67 according to the Histological Classification

In order to obtain information about the subsequent outcome, the referring veterinarian was contacted by telephone. According to the information received, the owner and referring veterinarian noted a subcutaneous mass at the site of excision about two months after the operation, and local recurrence was presumed. During the postoperative clinical course, which proceeded without any adjunctive therapy, a slow-growing mass was observed over a period of 40 months, becoming a hen’s egg-sized mass by the time the dog died at the age of 11. The dog had deteriorating stomatitis and was observed to experience difficulty in opening her mouth. Necropsy was not performed, and therefore it was not possible to investigate the cause of death and whether or not lipomatosis had recurred at the same site.

Lipomatosis in canine salivary glands with unknown pathophysiology has been reported in 11 cases diagnosed postoperatively, including three cases without detailed descriptions[2], [7], [8]. Eight of the reported cases, representing four in the mandibular gland and four in the parotid gland, had microscopical findings, although detailed macroscopical descriptions including the findings for the cut surface were only provided in one case[2]. Histologically, lipomatosis was characterized by interstitial fatty infiltration separating the individual glands into groups of various sizes without inflammation and fibrosis[2], [7]. One case had a thin capsule[2], and seven other cases did not have a distinct capsule[7].

Preoperative diagnosis of lipomatosis of the salivary glands is difficult in humans[9], and an adequate imaging investigation is mandatory for correct biopsy interpretation[10]. The same is true for cases encountered in the veterinary field. In the present case, the preoperative Tru-Cut biopsy sample consisted mainly of scattered serous lobules between mature lipid cells, and this may be interpreted as a result showing “no pathologic changes” or “insufficient material for diagnosis.” Postoperative diagnosis of lipomatosis is based on the gross appearance of a non-infiltrative, circumscribed swollen mass of the entire parotid gland, and the histological appearance of normal adipocytes infiltrated into the parotid gland without involving surrounding structures. Additionally, detailed macroscopic assessment at the dissection bench is important for the differential diagnosis of lipomatosis.

Regarding the proliferative activity, both the PCNA and Ki-67 values were within the range of those for lipomas and infiltrative lipomas of the dog and oral lipomas, including minor salivary lipomas, in humans[11]. Only the PCNA value was higher than that for normal adipose tissue.

The differential diagnosis of lipomatosis includes infiltrative lipoma[12], [13] and postinflammatory lipomatosis (parenchymatous atrophy)[4], [5]. Infiltrative lipoma, an uncommon variant of lipomas[13], is characterized by sheets of well-differentiated adipocytes that invade adjacent tissues but do not metastasize[12], [13]. Clinically, infiltrative lipomas are benign, but they are often difficult to completely excise, leading to local recurrence, with local recurrence rates ranging from 36 to 50%[14], [15]. Surgical margins are difficult to define at surgery[15] or by microscopy[13]. The present case featured lipomatosis resulting in diffuse swelling of the whole parotid gland but without formation of a discrete tumor mass. The surgical margins were free of the disease both macroscopically and microscopically. As for postinflammatory lipomatosis, its histologic characteristics including the presence of atrophic acini, foci of inflammation, and areas of fibrosis, were not seen in the present case.

Clinical follow-up surveys of lipomatosis of the salivary glands showed that surgical excision was completely successful in three dogs: two dogs were followed for six years without evidence of recurrence following excision or debulking of the mass, and one dog developed a salivary cyst after surgery but no recurrence[7]. However, necropsy to investigate the recurrence at the same site was not performed in all reported cases. The present case had presumed local recurrence, but further investigation was not performed. On the other hand, long-term follow-up is important and advised, as the probability of recurrence due to microscopic infiltration was found to be quite high in human pediatric cases[16].

In conclusion, preoperative diagnosis of lipomatosis is difficult, and histopathology alone is not confirmative for this condition. For postoperative diagnosis of lipomatosis of the salivary glands, detailed gross findings are important along with routine histopathology. As lipomatosis of the salivary glands is uncommon, all reports of lipomatosis of the salivary glands in dogs are individual case reports or small case series, including this case report. Data from a larger number of cases with long-term follow-up are necessary to provide the basis for a critical understanding of the etiology and biological behaviors of lipomatosis in salivary glands. At present, lipomatosis is merely of clinical significance, but it should be kept in mind as an additional differential diagnosis in cases showing swelling of the salivary glands.