Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine mast cell tumors: diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
- Journal:
- Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Garrett LD
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common type of skin cancer in dogs, but they can behave very differently from one dog to another. While many dogs can be cured with the right local treatment, some tumors can be more aggressive and may spread to other parts of the body, like lymph nodes or the liver. This unpredictability makes it hard for veterinarians to determine how a specific tumor will act, whether additional tests are needed to check for spreading, and what the best treatment options are. There are also ongoing debates about the best ways to manage these tumors and ensure they don't come back. Overall, the article emphasizes the need for careful diagnosis and treatment planning for dogs with MCTs.
Abstract
Laura D Garrett Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, IL, USA Abstract: Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common malignant skin cancer in dogs, and significant variability exists in their biological behavior. Most MCTs are cured with appropriate local therapy, but a subset shows malignant behavior with the potential to spread to lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and other areas and to thus become a systemic cancer. Because of this variable behavior, it is difficult to predict how any individual tumor is going to behave. The variability thus creates uncertainty in deciding what a particular dog's prognosis is, whether staging tests to assess for metastasis are needed, and even what treatments will be necessary for best outcome. In addition to controversies over the potential for development of systemic disease, or diffuse metastasis, controversies also exist over what treatment is needed to best attain local control of these tumors. This article will briefly discuss the diagnosis of MCTs in dogs and will summarize the literature in regards to the controversial topics surrounding the more aggressive form of this disease, with recommendations made based on published studies. Keywords: mitotic index, mastocytosis, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, histologic grade
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