Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with worsening swallowing trouble caused by esophageal cancer
By Wray, J D & Blunden, A S·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2006·Centre for Small Animal Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Progressive dysphagia in a dog caused by a scirrhous, poorly differentiated perioesophageal carcinoma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Border Collie was brought in because it was having increasing difficulty swallowing, a condition known as dysphagia. Initial tests suggested the problem might be functional, but further imaging and surgery revealed a serious issue: a poorly differentiated cancer affecting the esophagus. Unfortunately, this type of cancer can be very aggressive and difficult to treat. The case shows that while some imaging techniques can help, they may not always provide a complete picture of the problem.
People also search for: dog swallowing problems · Border Collie dysphagia · dog esophageal cancer treatment
Abstract
Investigation of canine dysphagia is performed by a combination of diagnostic imaging, direct visualisation of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and ancillary diagnostic testing to differentiate between structural and functional causes. Video fluoroscopy may be especially helpful. The case of a seven-year-old Border collie that presented with a history of progressive pharyngeal dysphagia is described. Fluoroscopic investigation was initially suggestive of functional pharyngeal disease, but magnetic resonance imaging and surgical exploration demonstrated the presence of a diffuse, scirrhous, poorly differentiated carcinoma with extensive oesophageal involvement. This case highlights that, in some circumstances, fluoroscopy may occasionally be of limited use in the investigation of dysphagia in the dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16417607/