Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine lymphoma: Pathological and clinical characteristics of patients treated at a referral hospital
- Journal:
- Veterinaria México OA
- Year:
- 2019
- Authors:
- Sánchez, Diana et al.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In a study of dogs with lymphoma, a type of cancer, researchers looked at 27 cases out of over 4,500 dogs treated at a veterinary hospital in Mexico over a year. Most of the dogs diagnosed were Miniature Schnauzers, and the average age of these dogs was about 7.5 years. The majority had advanced stages of the disease and were treated with chemotherapy, which worked well for about 73% of the dogs, leading to an average survival time of about 219 days. One dog with skin lymphoma responded well to treatment and was still doing well after 548 days. The researchers emphasized the need for earlier diagnosis and better treatment options for this type of cancer.
Abstract
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are common canine cancers with variable demographic and clinical presentations. Their pathological characterization and treatment lag far behind those of humans. We describe consecutive lymphoma patients detected over a one-year period at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Of 4,512 dogs: 220 (4.9%) had a cancer diagnosis, of which 27 (0.6%) had lymphoma (12% of cancer patients). We found an association with Miniature Schnauzers, which represented 18.5% (5/27) of lymphoma patients, but it was only 6.4% (288/4,512) of the dogs studied in this time period (p < 0.011). Miniature Schnauzers and mongrels together constituted nearly half of lymphoma cases. Mean age at diagnosis was 7.5 years (3-14), with a female to male ratio of 1.7:1. We found no correlation between lymphoma and castration status. Most patients presented nodal involvement (80%), were in advanced stages III/IV (90%) and had B-cell versus T-cell tumors (64%/36%). Only two histopathological patterns were seen, both with diffuse nodal-replacement by large immunoblast and/or centroblast-like cells; one having numerous tingible-body macrophages which are suggestive of a high proliferative rate. Chemotherapy was given to 15 patients (65%) with an overall response of 73% (3 complete responses/8 partial responses) and a mean overall survival of 219 days (4-586; SD±185). One cutaneous lymphoma-patient achieved partial response (PR) with lomustine/prednisone, and treatment was still ongoing at 548 days. Earlier diagnosis, better lymphoma subtype distinction, and specific curative treatments are needed.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.22201/fmvz.24486760e.2019.2.495