Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiation therapy for thymomas in dogs and cats
By Smith, A N et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2001·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Radiation therapy in the treatment of canine and feline thymomas: a retrospective study (1985-1999).
Plain-English summary
A group of 17 dogs and 7 cats with thymomas (tumors in the thymus gland) were treated with radiation therapy, either alone or alongside other treatments. About 75% of the pets showed some improvement, with a few experiencing significant reductions in tumor size. While complete disappearance of the tumors was rare, many pets with stable disease still had better clinical signs. The average survival time was about 248 days for dogs and 720 days for cats after treatment, indicating that radiation therapy can be beneficial for managing these tumors in pets.
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Abstract
A retrospective study was performed of 17 dogs and seven cats with various stages of thymoma treated with radiation alone or as an adjunctive therapy. Analysis revealed an overall response rate of 75% (15/20 evaluable cases). Partial (i.e., >50% reduction in tumor size) and complete (i.e., no detectable tumor) responses were included. Complete responses were rare (4/20). Three of five animals with stable disease (i.e., <50% change in tumor size) had improvements in clinical signs, despite lack of measurable response. A median survival time of 248 days (range, 93 to 1,657+ days) was achieved in dogs, and a median survival time of 720 days (range, 485 to 1,825+ days) was achieved in cats. Radiation therapy appears to be useful in the management of invasive thymomas in dogs and cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11563450/