Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Principles of surgery for cancer palliation and treatment of metastases.
- Journal:
- Clinical techniques in small animal practice
- Year:
- 1998
- Authors:
- Gilson, S D
- Affiliation:
- Sonora Veterinary Surgery and Oncology · United States
Plain-English summary
Surgery for pets with cancer is becoming more common, especially to help relieve symptoms and treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It's important for veterinarians to carefully choose which pets will benefit from surgery and to set clear goals for treatment to ensure the best outcomes while minimizing risks. Palliative surgery aims to improve the pet's quality of life, while some surgeries are done with the hope of curing the cancer. Veterinarians need to understand how the cancer behaves without treatment and the potential success and risks of the surgery. Overall, while there are guidelines to help with decision-making, the veterinarian's experience and judgment are crucial in selecting the right approach for each pet.
Abstract
Surgery in animals for palliation of clinical signs and treatment of cancer metastases is becoming more popular. Patients must be selected carefully and clear treatment goals established to maximize efficacy and minimize treatment-related morbidity and mortality. Palliative treatment is rendered primarily to control clinical signs and secondarily to prolong life. Ironically, metastasectomy is often performed with the intent to cure. For both considerations, the clinician must be knowledgeable of the natural history of the affecting neoplasia (i.e., how will the patient fare without treatment) and the success rates and expected complications of the surgical procedures being considered. Clinical guidelines for patient selection are presented and discussed for palliative treatment and metastasectomy. Although data are available in the human and veterinary medical literature to aid decision making, sound clinical judgment remains most important for proper patient selection and care.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9634351/