Veterinary Oncology: Biopsy and Treatment

What is the primary reason to perform an incisional biopsy?

What type of tumor is also called Sticker tumor and infectious sarcoma?

What is a characteristic of a histiocytoma in dogs?

Which of the following is a reason to perform surgical removal of a histiocytoma?

What is the main role of histiocytes in the body?

What is the primary mode of transmission of Canine transmissible venereal tumor?

What is a common location for Canine transmissible venereal tumor?

What is the purpose of identifying the tumor type and its prognosis?

What is the treatment of choice for intranasal cancers in dogs and cats?

What is the response rate of chemotherapy alone in treating tumors?

Why should chest x-rays be taken before surgical removal of a mammary tumor?

What is the goal of surgical removal of a histiocytoma?

What is the prognosis for lymphoma?

What is the importance of identifying the tumor type?

What is the characteristic of a histiocytoma?

What is the primary goal of treatment for tumors?

Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment

Incisional biopsy is necessary to determine the tumor type and prognosis, which affects the owner's decision to pursue curative-intent treatment.
Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a histiocytic tumor that affects the external genitalia of dogs and other canids, transmitted through copulation.

Types of Tumors

Cutaneous histiocytoma is a benign tumor that can regress within 2-3 months, but surgical removal may be necessary if it doesn't regress or grows rapidly.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer with rare complete cure, but long remission times are possible with chemotherapy.
Nasal adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that responds well to radiation therapy in dogs and cats.
Inflammatory mammary CA is a type of cancer that requires surgical removal with wide margins to prevent recurrence.
Metastases present is a condition where cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment Approaches

Chemotherapy alone has a 30% response rate and responses are usually short-lived.
Radiation therapy is the treatment of choice for intranasal cancers in dogs and cats.
Surgical removal is the treatment of choice for certain types of cancer, but chest x-rays should be taken first to rule out metastasis.

Diagnostic Plan for Neoplasia

The diagnostic plan includes differential diagnosis, description and documentation, identification, grading, staging, assessing overall health, and treatment planning.
A surgical plan may be indicated in certain cases.

Surgical Plan

The most common mistake in oncologic surgery is not being aggressive enough on the first excision.
The first excision is the best chance for a cure.

Quiz on veterinary oncology, focusing on biopsy and treatment decisions for pet owners. Covers importance of tumor type and prognosis in treatment planning.