Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Survival and surgery outcomes for dogs with parathyroid cancer
By Erickson, Andrea K et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2021·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Incidence, survival time, and surgical treatment of parathyroid carcinomas in dogs: 100 cases (2010-2019).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 100 dogs with parathyroid carcinoma (a type of cancer affecting the parathyroid glands) were treated with surgery to remove the tumors. Many of these dogs showed symptoms like increased thirst and urination, weakness in their hind legs, and lack of appetite due to high calcium levels in their blood. After surgery, most dogs had their high calcium levels resolved within a week, although some developed low calcium levels afterward. The surgery led to good long-term outcomes, with many dogs living for two years or more after treatment.
People also search for: dog parathyroid cancer treatment · symptoms of high calcium in dogs · dog surgery recovery time
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcomes of dogs with parathyroid carcinoma (PTC) treated by surgical excision and to describe the incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia, degree of hypocalcemia, duration of hospitalization, duration of calcium supplementation, and survival time. ANIMALS: 100 client-owned dogs with PTC admitted to academic, referral veterinary institutions. PROCEDURES: In a retrospective multi-institutional study, medical records of dogs undergoing surgical excision of PTC between 2010 to 2019 were reviewed. Signalment, relevant medical history, clinical signs, clinicopathologic testing, imaging, surgical findings, intraoperative complications, histologic examination, and survival time were recorded. RESULTS: 100 dogs with PTC were included, and 96 dogs had clinical or incidental hypercalcemia. Common clinical signs included polyuria (44%), polydipsia (43%), hind limb paresis (22%), lethargy (21%), and hyporexia (20%). Cervical ultrasonography detected a parathyroid nodule in 91 of 91 dogs, with a single nodule in 70.3% (64/91), 2 nodules in 25.3% (23/91), and ≥ 3 nodules in 4 (4/91)% of dogs. Hypercalcemia resolved in 89 of 96 dogs within 7 days after surgery. Thirty-four percent of dogs developed hypocalcemia, on the basis of individual analyzer ranges, within 1 week after surgery. One dog had metastatic PTC to the prescapular lymph node, and 3 dogs were euthanized for refractory postoperative hypocalcemia. Estimated 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 84%, 65%, and 51% respectively, with a median survival time of 2 years. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Excision of PTC results in resolution of hypercalcemia and excellent long-term tumor control. Surgical excision of PTC is recommended because of resolution of hypercalcemia and a good long-term prognosis. Future prospective studies and long-term follow-up are needed to further assess primary tumor recurrence, metastasis, and incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34727057/