Hypoglycaemia associated with gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal stromal tumour in two dogs

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are uncommon mesenchymal
tumours that originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). As these
tumours are difficult to distinguish from gastrointestinal smooth muscle
tumours using standard histological techniques, their true prevalence
may be underestimated. Metabolic and systemic consequences of GISTs
are not well described in any species. More rarely, neoplasms with
histological and immunohistochemical features similar to GISTs may
occur outside the gastrointestinal tract, so-called Extra-gastrointestinal
Stromal Tumours (EGIST). EGISTs have never been described in the
veterinary literature. In this article we present and describe clinical
findings, management and treatment of two dogs with clinical
hypoglycaemia induced by histologically confirmed GIST and EGIST.
Hypoglycaemia resolved immediately and long-term after tumour
excision. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first report of
hypoglycaemia associated with a canine GIST and the first case report of
an EGIST in the dog.