Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scan signs linked to bone fractures after radiosurgery in dogs
By Kubicek, Lyndsay et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2016·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND FRACTURES FOLLOWING STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY IN DOGS WITH APPENDICULAR OSTEOSARCOMA.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer) underwent stereotactic radiosurgery, a specialized radiation treatment, to manage their condition. After treatment, the average survival time was about 9.7 months, with some dogs experiencing fractures at different rates over time. Those with bone damage near the joint (subchondral bone) were more likely to fracture sooner, averaging just over 4 months, compared to 16 months for those without that type of damage. This study highlights the importance of using CT scans to better predict which dogs might be at higher risk for fractures after treatment.
People also search for: dog osteosarcoma treatment · dog bone cancer survival rate · stereotactic radiosurgery for dogs
Abstract
The objective of this observational, descriptive, retrospective study was to report CT characteristics associated with fractures following stereotactic radiosurgery in canine patients with appendicular osteosarcoma. Medical records (1999 and 2012) of dogs that had a diagnosis of appendicular osteosarcoma and undergone stereotactic radiosurgery were reviewed. Dogs were included in the study if they had undergone stereotactic radiosurgery for an aggressive bone lesion with follow-up information regarding fracture status, toxicity, and date and cause of death. Computed tomography details, staging, chemotherapy, toxicity, fracture status and survival data were recorded. Overall median survival time (MST) and fracture rates of treated dogs were calculated. CT characteristics were evaluated for association with time to fracture. Forty-six dogs met inclusion criteria. The median overall survival time was 9.7 months (95% CI: 6.9-14.3 months). The fracture-free rates at 3, 6, and 9 months were 73%, 44%, and 38% (95% CI: 60-86%, 29-60%, and 22-54%), respectively. The region of bone affected was significantly associated with time to fracture. The median time to fracture was 4.2 months in dogs with subchondral bone involvement and 16.3 months in dogs without subchondral bone involvement (P-value = 0.027, log-rank test). Acute and late skin effects were present in 58% and 16% of patients, respectively. Findings demonstrated a need for improved patient selection for this procedure, which can be aided by CT-based prognostic factors to predict the likelihood of fracture.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26916056/