Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Survival after thymoma tumor removal in cats and dogs
By Zitz, Julia C et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2008·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Results of excision of thymoma in cats and dogs: 20 cases (1984-2005).
Plain-English summary
A group of 9 cats and 11 dogs diagnosed with thymoma (a type of tumor affecting the thymus gland) underwent surgery to remove the tumors. After the surgery, most pets had a good outcome, with cats living an average of about 5 years and dogs around 2 years. The study found that pets with a higher percentage of lymphocytes in the tumor lived longer after surgery. In cases where the tumor came back, additional surgery was performed, and those pets also had good long-term survival. Overall, surgical removal of thymomas appears to be an effective treatment for both cats and dogs.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To provide long-term follow-up information for a series of dogs and cats with invasive and noninvasive thymomas treated by excision alone. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 9 cats and 11 dogs with thymoma. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed. The following factors were analyzed for their effect on prognosis: age of dog or cat, invasiveness of the tumor, percentage of lymphocytes in the mass (percentage lymphocyte composition) on histologic evaluation, and mitotic index of the mass. RESULTS: All patients were treated with excision of the tumor alone. Median overall survival time for the cats was 1,825 days, with a 1-year survival rate of 89% and a 3-year survival rate of 74%. Median overall survival time for the dogs was 790 days, with a 1-year survival rate of 64% and a 3-year survival rate of 42%. Recurrence of thymoma was observed in 2 cats and 1 dog, and a second surgery was performed in each, with subsequent survival times of 5, 3, and 4 years following the first surgery. Percentage lymphocyte composition of the mass was the only factor that was significantly correlated with survival time; animals with a high percentage of lymphocytes lived longer. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this study indicated that most cats and dogs with thymomas did well after excision. Even cats and dogs with invasive masses that survived the surgery and the few cats and dogs with recurrent thymomas or paraneoplastic syndromes had a good long-term outcome. Excision should be considered an effective treatment option for dogs and cats with thymomas.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18412532/