Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How liver and spleen ultrasound affect lymphoma staging in dogs
By Nerschbach, V et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative oncology·2016·Small Animal Hospital of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Splenic and hepatic ultrasound and cytology in canine lymphoma: effects of findings on stage migration and assessment of prognosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 186 dogs with multicentric lymphoma (a type of cancer affecting the lymph nodes) underwent ultrasounds and tests of their liver and spleen to see how these findings affected their cancer stage and prognosis. The tests showed that fewer dogs were classified as having liver and spleen involvement than previously thought, and some dogs were moved from a more advanced stage (stage IV) to a less severe stage (stage III). However, these additional tests did not significantly change the chances of the dogs going into remission or their overall survival with chemotherapy. More research is needed to better understand how these diagnostic methods impact treatment outcomes.
Abstract
Stage migration is described in humans and dogs as a sequel of using more sensitive diagnostic methods. One hundred eighty-six dogs with multicentric lymphoma were enrolled with results of conventional staging as well as ultrasonographic and cytological examination of liver and spleen being available. The addition of splenic respective hepatic ultrasound and cytology findings resulted in slightly lower number of dogs classified as having liver and spleen involvement. In dogs with multicentric lymphoma, addition of cytology led to a significant shift of individuals from stage IV to stage III. Findings of hepatic and splenic ultrasound and cytology exerted no significant influence on complete remission and survival durations in dogs with combination chemotherapy. Staging methodology in canine lymphoma should be redefined, considering that the prognostic significance of splenic and hepatic ultrasound and cytology warrants further investigation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25470748/