Multinucleated histiocytic giant cells (MHGC) are sometimes seen in skin-biopsy specimens from cats with inflammatory dermatoses. However, the prevalence, number, and morphological types of those cells have not been reported. We evaluated skin-biopsy specimens from 526 cats with inflammatory dermatoses and from 33 cats with normal skin. Overall, 7% (35/526) of cats with inflammatory dermatoses had MHGCs. The prevalence of MHGCs was greater (p<0.0001) in granulomatous dermatoses (32/125) than in nongranulomatous dermatoses (3/401). The prevalence of MHGCs was significantly higher in noninfectious granulomatous dermatoses (27/84) than in infectious granulomatous dermatoses (5/41; p=0.016). All 35 cats with MHGCs had the foreign-body-type of MHGC. Only 2 of those 35 cats also had some MHGCs of the Langhans type. MHGCs were not seen in normal skin. Number and morphological types of MHGCs were of no apparent diagnostic importance.

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A retrospective study was conducted on 55 cats with idiopathic eosinophilic granuloma. Ninety-three percent of the cats had an age of onset of ≤4 years old. Lesions occurred most commonly on the lips, caudal thighs, and chin and were usually asymptomatic. Papular-to-nodular or linear lesions were seen in 70% and 30% of the cats, respectively. Seventy-eight percent of the cats received no treatment and – where follow-up information was available (67% of cases) – underwent spontaneous remissions with no relapses recorded.

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A 15-week-old female Toy Poodle was presented with swelling and erosion on the eyelids and muzzle, and erosion and disintegration localized to a combination vaccine injection site. Histopathological analysis of the facial lesion revealed sterile pyogranuloma dermatitis characterized by severe folliculitis, and the vaccination site revealed sterile granulomatous panniculitis. Based on the examination and clinical course, the dog was diagnosed as having juvenile sterile granulomatous dermatitis and sterile panniculitis. There was a good response to the administration of prednisolone in immunosuppressive doses.

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A 12-year-old male miniature dachshund, weighing 6.2 kg, presented with a 1-year history of pigmentation and alopecia on the nasal bridge, abdominal distention, alopecia and desquamation on the trunk, alopecia and skin flare on a tarsal joint, and a 1-month history of polyuria and polydipsia (PU/PD, 192 ml/kg/day). The adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test showed a pre cortisol level of 12.1 μg/dl and a post level of 68.4 μg/dl. Computed tomography revealed a 3-mm pituitary gland and bilateral adrenal gland enlargement (right, 16 mm; left, 13 mm). The diagnosis was pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. The pituitary region was irradiated in three fractions once a week for a total of 18 Gy. Hair growth and water consumption (167 ml/kg/day) improved slightly when radiotherapy was completed. No acute radiation side effects were detected. After completion of radiotherapy, the owner reported that the PU/PD improved gradually (day 85, 138 ml/kg/day; day 157, 94 ml/kg/day; and day 388, 85 ml/kg/day). On day 157, the lesion on the nasal bridge improved, and on day 388, the hair coat was normalized. The ACTH stimulation test showed a pre cortisol level of 10.7 μg/dl and a post level of 64.0 μg/dl on day 85, and a pre level of 6.3 μg/dl and a post level of 36.1 μg/dl on day 410. Hypofractionated low-total-dose radiotherapy was not effective immediately, unlike medical management, but it may be useful for controlling some clinical symptoms without radiation side effects.

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