Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine Apocrine Gland Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma: A Review.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2022
- Authors:
- Repasy, Alec B et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASAC) is a type of cancer that can occur in dogs, making up about 17% of cancers found near the anus. Dogs with this condition may show signs like trouble passing stool due to the tumor or swollen lymph nodes, and they might also experience high calcium levels in their blood, which can cause various health issues. The main treatment usually involves surgically removing the tumor and any affected lymph nodes, but radiation and chemotherapy may also be used. While the effectiveness of chemotherapy as a follow-up treatment isn't fully established, dogs with smaller tumors and those receiving additional treatments for any returning cancer can live longer. Overall, the outcome can be positive, especially with early and comprehensive treatment.
Abstract
Apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASAC) is a relatively uncommon tumor in the dog and comprises approximately 17% of perianal malignancies; however, it is one of the most common causes of paraneoplastic hypercalcemia. Clinical signs in affected dogs most commonly are associated with mechanical obstruction caused by the primary tumor or enlarged regional metastatic lymph nodes and the effects of paraneoplastic hypercalcemia when present. Surgical excision of the primary tumor and metastasectomy of affected locoregional lymph nodes is the preferred initial treatment option for most dogs, although radiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy are commonly incorporated into multi-modality treatment plans. A significant role for the use of adjuvant chemotherapy has not been clearly demonstrated. Prolonged survival times are possible, especially for dogs with smaller primary tumors and for dogs that undergo further treatments for recurrent disease. In this article, we review the clinical signs, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and prognosis of AGASAC in the dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35792243/