Prognostic role of clinical presentation, cytological picture and response to treatment in canine centroblastic lymphoma.

Centroblastic lymphoma (CBL) is the most common type of lymphoma in dogs and it usually responds well to chemotherapy. The aim of the study was to provide useful prognostic factors for dogs with CBL. Data regarding sex, breed, age, signalment, treatment and clinical course of the disease from 52 dogs diagnosed with centroblastic lymphoma (CBL) with cytology and immunocytochemistry were provisionally collected and related to the treatment outcome and survival. More than 80% of dogs were treated with chemotherapy and achieved complete remission in 80% of cases. Among the prognostic factors positively related to the overall survival time of dogs with CBL were: the application of chemotherapy, achieving a complete remission, application of at least one additional chemotherapeutic agent to the basic protocol, especially the administration of mitoxantrone and asparaginase. Moreover, mitotic count 14 or higher measured in cytological slides in the area of 2,37 mm2 have been linked to shorter overall survival in dogs with CBL.