Sterile Nodular Diseases in Dogs and Cats II

Nodular dermatofibrosis syndrome in German shepherd dogs and occasionally other breeds is a nodular skin disease associated with renal cystadenocarcinomas or cystadenomas.1 One similar dog has been described without evidence of renal disease even after 5 years of follow-up.2 Histologic study of the nodules reveals dense collagen fibrosis. These nodules are most often found on the distal extremities. Diagnosis of renal lesions is best done by ultrasound. This should be repeated at six month intervals if the disease is suspected but the original ultrasound is normal. While the prognosis is serious, some dogs with benign renal cysts have survived for five years or more after diagnosis.3 Genetic data research suggests that the syndrome may be caused by a mutation in a tumor suppressor gene [...]