Stefano Romussi

Publications of Stefano Romussi

• Diagnostic accuracy of brush cytology in canine chronic intranasal disease.

  Authors: Mario Caniatti, Nazaré Pinto da Cunha, Giancarlo Avallone, Stefano Romussi, Carlo Maria Mortellaro, Vito Tranquillo, Gabriele Ghisleni

  Veterinary clinical pathology / American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 03/2012; 41(1):133-40.

  Most cases of canine chronic intranasal disease cannot be differentiated based on clinical examination alone, and biopsy is often required for a definitive diagnosis. Nonsurgical cytologic andMost cases of canine chronic intranasal disease cannot be differentiated based on clinical examination alone, and biopsy is often required for a definitive diagnosis. Nonsurgical cytologic and histologic biopsy techniques represent desirable diagnostic approaches. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of brush cytology in differentiating non-neoplastic and neoplastic diseases in dogs with chronic intranasal disease. Cytologic samples of lesions in dogs with chronic intranasal disease were obtained by brushing over a 12-year period. All dogs had complete physical examinations as well as radiographic, rhinoscopic, and cytologic evaluation. Histologic diagnosis, follow-up clinical information, or both were used as the gold standard, and dogs free of disease or with no progression of disease at 1 year were considered negative for neoplasia. Indicators of performance of brush cytology in detecting neoplasia were calculated and included sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio. Samples of nasal brushings from 138 dogs were evaluated. Of 62 cases of neoplastic disease, true-positive and false-negative diagnoses were made using cytologic evaluation in 44 (71.0%) and 18 (29.0%) cases, respectively. False-negative diagnoses of neoplasia were not attributed to low cellularity, but to the presence of inflammatory cells that masked neoplastic cells. Brush cytology had a sensitivity of 0.71, specificity of 0.99, positive likelihood ratio of 53.94, negative likelihood ratio of 0.29, and diagnostic odds ratio of 188.33. Brush cytology has good diagnostic accuracy for chronic intranasal lesions in dogs.

• The anatomy of the dog soft palate. II. Histological evaluation of the caudal soft palate in brachycephalic breeds with grade I brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome.

  Authors: Michela Pichetto, Silvana Arrighi, Paola Roccabianca, Stefano Romussi

  Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007). 07/2011; 294(7):1267-72.

  In brachycephalic dogs, the skull bone shortening is not paralleled by a decreased development of soft tissues. Relatively longer soft palate is one of the main factors contributing to pharyngealIn brachycephalic dogs, the skull bone shortening is not paralleled by a decreased development of soft tissues. Relatively longer soft palate is one of the main factors contributing to pharyngeal narrowing during normal respiratory activity of these dog breeds, which are frequent carriers of the brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome (BAOS), which affects most part of them during their postnatal life. No histological studies assessing the morphology and the normal tissue composition of the soft palate in brachycephalic dogs are available, neither has ever been determined whether the elongated soft palate is a primary or secondary event. Aim of this study was to describe the morphology of the caudal soft palate in brachycephalic dogs with Grade I BAOS to identify potential features possibly favoring the pathogenesis of BAOS. Specimens from brachycephalic dogs (N = 11) that underwent preventive surgery were collected from surgery, processed for histology, and examined at six transversal levels. The brachycephalic soft palates showed peculiar features such as thickened superficial epithelium, extensive oedema of the connective tissue, and mucous gland hyperplasia. Several muscular alterations were evidenced in addition. The results of this investigation add to the general knowledge of the anatomy of soft palate in the canine species and establish baseline information on the morphological basis of the soft palate thickening in brachycephalic dogs.

• The anatomy of the dog soft palate. I. Histological evaluation of the caudal soft palate in mesaticephalic breeds.

  Authors: Silvana Arrighi, Michela Pichetto, Paola Roccabianca, Stefano Romussi

  Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007). 07/2011; 294(7):1261-6.

  The gross anatomy and overall structure of the soft palate has been described in the average dog's head, however, no descriptive microanatomical studies of the dog soft palate are available, despiteThe gross anatomy and overall structure of the soft palate has been described in the average dog's head, however, no descriptive microanatomical studies of the dog soft palate are available, despite their possible utility in view of the manifold and important repercussions of this organ physiology. This is the first of two companion papers, dealing with the caudal part of the soft palate in the canine species, in mesaticephalic and brachycephalic dogs. Specimens from mesaticephalic healthy dogs (N = 8) were collected after euthanasia, processed for histology and sectioned at six transversal levels. Morphological stainings were used for a microscopic evaluation of the tissue layers composing the distal part of the soft palate in adult mesaticephalic dogs, and histochemical reactions were applied to assess mucin types within glandular tissue and to investigate the connective tissues. The organ was characteristically organized into a major deep musculo-connective axis mixed with salivary glands and covered by the mucosal lining on either the nasopharyngeal or the oral sides. The results of this investigation add to the general knowledge of the anatomy of soft palate in the canine species and establish baseline information for the parallel study on the long and thickened soft palate, which is typical of adult brachycephalic dogs.

• Feline injection-site sarcoma: Recurrence, tumour grading and surgical margin status evaluated using the three-dimensional histological technique.

  Authors: Chiara Giudice, Damiano Stefanello, Marcello Sala, Matteo Cantatore, Fulvia Russo, Stefano Romussi, Olga Travetti, Mauro Di Giancamillo, Valeria Grieco

  Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997). 10/2009;

  The three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised felineThe three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised feline injection-site sarcoma specimens. The predictive value of the histological margin status and tumour grading on local recurrence was investigated. In 32/48 cases, the margins were non-infiltrated, whilst in the remaining 16 cases, they were infiltrated. Overall, 6/32 (19%) tumours with non-infiltrated margins and 11/16 (69%) with infiltrated margins recurred. Tumours with infiltrated margins recurred about 10 times more frequently compared to tumours with non-infiltrated margins (P=0.0011). No statistically significant correlation was observed between grading and recurrence. The assessment of margin status using the 3D histology technique showed a good predictivity for post-surgical tumour recurrence. Extensive application of the 3D histology technique is recommended to standardise the evaluation of histological margins and to allow comparison between results from different laboratories.

• Marginal excision of low-grade spindle cell sarcoma of canine extremities: 35 dogs (1996-2006).

  Authors: Damiano Stefanello, Emanuela Morello, Paola Roccabianca, Selina Iussich, Claudia Nassuato, Marina Martano, Chiara Squassino, Giancarlo Avallone, Stefano Romussi, Paolo Buracco

  Veterinary surgery : VS : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. 08/2008; 37(5):461-5.

  OBJECTIVE: To evaluate recurrence rate and disease-free interval (DFI) of dogs with low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities treated by marginal excision. STUDY DESIGN:OBJECTIVE: To evaluate recurrence rate and disease-free interval (DFI) of dogs with low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities treated by marginal excision. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Dogs (n=35) with soft tissue low-grade spindle cell sarcoma. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed and dogs that had marginal surgical resection of low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma at or distal to elbow and stifle were included. RESULTS: Histopathologic margins were dirty (12 dogs), clean but close (12), and clean (11). Follow-up after surgery occurred from 210 to 2202 days (minimum, 180 days). Local recurrence and metastatic rates were 10.8% and 0%, respectively. Median DFI and survival time were not reached, because <50% of dogs died of disease-related events. Mean DFI and mean survival time were 697.8 days (95% CI: 559.7-836 days) and 703.5 days (95% CI: 566.6-840.5 days), respectively. There were no significant differences among survival functions stratified by histologic margins. CONCLUSION: Marginal surgical excision without adjuvant treatment of low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities results in a low local recurrence rate. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Low-grade spindle cell sarcomas located at or distal to the elbow and stifle joints can be excised without need for wide or radical surgery.

• Prostatic sarcomatoid carcinoma in a dog: cytologic and immunohistochemical findings.

  Authors: Nazarél Pinto da Cunha, Gabriele Ghisleni, Stefano Romussi, Mario Caniatti

  Veterinary clinical pathology / American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 01/2008; 36(4):368-72.

  An 8-year-old neutered male Boxer was presented with tenesmus, hemorrhagic urethral discharge, and dysuria. Abdominal ultrasound and radiographic examinations revealed irregular prostaticAn 8-year-old neutered male Boxer was presented with tenesmus, hemorrhagic urethral discharge, and dysuria. Abdominal ultrasound and radiographic examinations revealed irregular prostatic enlargement. Laparotomy was performed and intraoperative cytology was done on imprint smears of a biopsy specimen obtained from a prostatic mass. The cytologic preparation was highly cellular and contained a predominant population of atypical, large, loosely cohesive spindle cells, with rare multinucleated cells and mitotic figures. The cytologic findings were consistent with undifferentiated sarcoma. At necropsy, a large cystic prostatic mass and numerous satellite nodules in the soft tissues around the pelvis were found. On histologic examination the tumor was composed primarily of bundles of neoplastic spindle cells. Rare pseudo-acinar structures and signet-ring cells also were observed. On immunohistochemical examination, the neoplastic cells co-expressed cytokeratin and vimentin. Based on histologic and immunohistochemical findings, the tumor was diagnosed as primary prostatic sarcomatoid carcinoma. This is a rare tumor in dogs, in which biphasic morphology of epithelial and mesenchymal cells can complicate the diagnosis, requiring immunochemical stains for confirmation.

• Feline injection-site sarcoma: Recurrence, tumour grading and surgical margin status evaluated using the three-dimensional histological technique

  Authors: Chiara Giudice, Damiano Stefanello, Marcello Sala, Matteo Cantatore, Fulvia Russo, Stefano Romussi, Olga Travetti, Mauro Di Giancamillo, Valeria Grieco

  The Veterinary Journal.

  The three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised felineThe three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised feline injection-site sarcoma specimens. The predictive value of the histological margin status and tumour grading on local recurrence was investigated. In 32/48 cases, the margins were non-infiltrated, whilst in the remaining 16 cases, they were infiltrated. Overall, 6/32 (19%) tumours with non-infiltrated margins and 11/16 (69%) with infiltrated margins recurred. Tumours with infiltrated margins recurred about 10 times more frequently compared to tumours with non-infiltrated margins (P = 0.0011). No statistically significant correlation was observed between grading and recurrence. The assessment of margin status using the 3D histology technique showed a good predictivity for post-surgical tumour recurrence. Extensive application of the 3D histology technique is recommended to standardise the evaluation of histological margins and to allow comparison between results from different laboratories.

• Primary osseous melanoma in the tibia of a dog.

  Authors: Damiano Stefanello, Stefano Romussi, Paola Signorelli, Mario Caniatti, Mauro DiGiancamillo, Paola Roccabianca, Giancarlo Avallone

  Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 44(3):139-43.

  An 18-month-old, female Cane Corso dog was presented with a suspected primary tumor of the tibia. Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) of the tibia were highly suggestive of a primary boneAn 18-month-old, female Cane Corso dog was presented with a suspected primary tumor of the tibia. Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) of the tibia were highly suggestive of a primary bone neoplasm. A diagnosis of malignant melanoma was made by cytology. Total body survey radiographs, CT scan of the thorax, and abdominal ultrasound excluded the presence of neoplastic lesions other than in the tibia. Limb amputation was performed. Histology and immunohistochemical analysis of the tibial neoplasm confirmed the diagnosis of a melanoma with secondary metastasis to the popliteal lymph node. The dog was alive and in good physical condition 43 months after surgery.