Risk of incision problems after dog mast cell tumor surgery

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively compare the incidence of incisional complications in dogs undergoing surgery for mast cell tumors (MCTs) and soft tissue sarcomas (STSs). ANIMALS: 218 dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs that underwent excision of ≥ 1 MCT, STS, or both from January 2014 to July 2019 and had ≥ 30 days postoperative follow-up were included. Signalment; anesthesia and surgery time; administration of propofol; tumor type, grade, location, and size; intended surgical margins; histologic margins; perioperative radiation, chemotherapy, and corticosteroid and antihistamine (MCT group) treatments; and incisional complications (classified as major or minor) were recorded. Follow-up information was obtained from owners or primary care veterinarians, if needed. Incidence and severity of incisional complications were compared between the MCT and STS groups. Potential risk factors were assessed for associations with incisional complications by simple and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The 218 dogs underwent surgery for 293 tumors (209 MCTs and 84 STSs). Complication rates did not differ between MCT (28/209 [13%]) and STS (12/84 [14%]) groups. For the MCT group, incomplete margins (vs complete or narrow), increasing Patnaik tumor grade, and postoperative chemotherapy (yes vs no) were associated with increased odds of incisional complications on simple regression. On multiple logistic regression, postoperative chemotherapy was associated with increased odds of incisional complications for the MCT group and both groups combined. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On the basis of the results, we suggest that chemotherapy be used with caution ≤ 30 days after surgery for dogs with MCTs. Corticosteroid administration was not associated with incisional complications for the MCT group in this study.