Oncology- Information for vets
Canine mast cell tumours
Mast cell tumours (MCT) are the most commonly diagnosed skin tumours of dogs, with an estimated incidence of 129 per 100 000 dogs, which if extrapolated to the entire dog population of the UK equates to approximately 9,000 new cases a year. MCTs have a wide range of behaviour varying from benign through to extremely aggressive. MCTs are categorised into grades I, II and III, according to their histological characteristics, and histological grade is the most accurate predictor of MCT behaviour. Surgery alone is usually curative for the approximately 30% of dogs with well-differentiated (grade I) MCT. However, the approximately 20% of dogs with poorly differentiated (grade III) MCT, which are treated with surgery alone, usually die due to tumour metastases. The poorly differentiated tumours metastasise to the local lymph node, liver and spleen before causing the death of the animal, typically about 7 months after diagnosis. The dogs that have, or are likely to have, metastatic disease require chemotherapy and have a much more guarded prognosis. Unpredictably, around 10% of the poorly differentiated MCT do not metastasise. Intermediate (grade II) tumours are the most frequently diagnosed grade of MCT (43-59% of cases), and are heterogeneous in behaviour. Approximately 20-30% of the intermediate MCT will go on to metastasise, while the remaining 70-80% are cured by surgery alone, exhibiting a well-differentiated MCT-like behaviour.
Canine lymphoma
Lymphoma (malignant lymphoma, or lymphosarcoma) is one of the most common cancers in dogs, accounting for up to 20% of all tumours and affecting as many as 24 out of every 100,000 dogs. Lymphoma may occur in dogs of any age, but is most common in dogs between 6-9 years of age. Although the incidence of lymphoma appears to be higher in certain breeds, most breeds are affected. As lymphoma arises from cells of the lymphoreticular system the disease can be seen wherever lymphocytes are normally found, but, commonly, it presents as a generalised peripheral lymphadenopathy (multicentric disease). To varying degrees, clinical stage, histomorphologic subtype, and cell lineage (T- or B-lymphocyte origin) have been associated with outcome. Clinical decisions regarding treatment are dependent upon such variables.
Canine brain tumours
Introduction
Feline oral squamous cell carcinomas
Introduction
Canine soft tissue sarcoma
Introduction
Canine ocular melanoma
Introduction
Canine osteosarcoma
Introduction
