Figure 2

Histopathological patterns of tumor responses to ECT treatment. A) A high grade feline fibrosarcoma situated between the scapulae of a cat before the ECT treatment (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 20). B) The same lesion after completion of the ECT treatment (two weeks) is shown: note the almost complete disappearance of the neoplastic cells, substituted by scar tissue (Haematoxylin/Van Gieson, original magnification × 20). C) The recurrence as a neurofibroma-like lesion at the site of a previously treated feline fibrosarcoma is depicted. The phenomenon in this particular patient occurred twelve months after the completion of the ECT course (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 20). D) A canine cutaneous MCT before the ECT treatment (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 20). E) The same lesion at the end of the adjuvant ECT treatment for incomplete surgical excision is shown: note the dramatic reduction in cellularity of the lesion (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 20). F) An higher magnification of figure 1E, demonstrating that the most of the residual neoplastic cells are apoptotic (TUNEL reaction, original magnification × 40). G) A canine oral melanoma before ECT treatment (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 20). H) A detail of figure 1G, showing the local aggressivity of the neoplasm, that invades the muscular tissue (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 40). I) The same tumor after completion of the ECT treatment (two weeks): most of the neoplastic cells are destroyed and substituted by scar tissue (Haematoxylin/Van Gieson, original magnification × 20). J) A cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a cat after the first ECT treatment: note the partial destruction of the neoplasm and the inflammatory process, consisting mainly of lymphocytes, neutrophils and plasma cells (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 20). K) A very aggressive canine haemangioperycitoma before ECT treatment (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 40). L) The same neoplasm after two ECT treatments: note the partial destruction of the tumor, substituted by scar tissue and the integrity of the normal skin, over the neoplasm (Haematoxylin and Eosin, original magnification × 20).