Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a benign neoplasm of the adipose tissue that may resemble an undifferentiated soft tissue sarcoma (STS). This report describes the histopathological features of 6 SCLs in dogs. All SCLs were located in the subcutis and were composed of bland, occasionally vacuolated spindle cells intermixed with ropey collagen and myxoid matrix. Sudan IV stain performed in 1 case demonstrated the lipid content of vacuoles. Mature adipocytes represented less than 10% of the neoplasm in 3 cases and were absent in the remaining 3. Average mitotic count in 10 high-power fields was 0.17. Neoplastic cells were immunohistochemically positive for vimentin and negative for S100 protein, smooth muscle actin, factor VIII-ra, and MDM2. Awareness of SCL and its specific histopathological features is essential to diagnose this specific tumor. Further studies are needed to document the biological behavior of these tumors in dogs.
Keywords: canine; histochemistry; immunohistochemistry; lipoma; soft tissue sarcoma; spindle cell lipoma.