Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using lung lavage to detect mammary tumor spread in dogs
By Pavelski, M et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2017·Department of Veterinary Medicine, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Single-aliquot, non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of metastatic mammary tumours in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with mammary tumors underwent a special lung test called bronchoalveolar lavage to check for cancer spread to the lungs. The results showed that dogs with lung metastasis had higher levels of certain white blood cells in the fluid collected from their lungs. However, this test was not very effective at finding cancer cells, as only one dog with normal lung X-rays had malignant cells detected. This suggests that while the test can indicate potential lung issues, it may not reliably diagnose cancer spread in dogs with mammary tumors.
People also search for: dog mammary tumor symptoms · bronchoalveolar lavage for dogs · dog lung cancer diagnosis
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of bronchoalveolar lavage as an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of neoplastic lung metastasis from mammary tumours in dogs. METHODS: A single-institution prospective observational study including 20 healthy dogs and 30 with mammary tumours. Thoracic radiography and single-aliquot, non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage with cytology interpretation was performed in all animals and the results compared between groups. RESULTS: Dogs with mammary gland tumours and radiographic evidence of pulmonary metastasis had significantly higher relative neutrophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid than dogs with tumours without evidence of metastasis. In only one dog, in which thoracic radiographs were normal, were malignant cells identified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Inflammatory bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in dogs with mammary gland tumours may suggest metastatic disease. Bronchoalveolar lavage does not appear to be sensitive for identifying malignant cells.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28267221/