Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tumor size linked to lymph invasion in dog oral melanoma
By Carroll, Kenneth A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2020·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tumor size as a predictor of lymphatic invasion in oral melanomas of dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that larger oral melanomas (a type of skin cancer in the mouth) in dogs are more likely to invade the lymphatic system, which can affect treatment options. Specifically, tumors smaller than 6.5 mm are unlikely to invade the lymphatics, while those 24.5 mm or larger are very likely to do so. This information can help veterinarians assess the severity of the cancer and decide on the best treatment approach. Understanding the size of the tumor can be crucial for pet owners facing this diagnosis.
People also search for: dog oral melanoma treatment · what is lymphatic invasion in dogs · signs of cancer in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate putative associations between oral melanoma size and variables of histologic grade such as mitotic index, nuclear atypia, junctional activity, ulceration, lymphatic invasion, and degree of pigmentation. SAMPLE: 59 samples of oral melanomas from dogs sourced from 6 diagnostic laboratories within Australia. PROCEDURES: The size of each melanoma was microscopically measured, and each sample was evaluated for variables of histologic grade including mitotic index, nuclear atypia, junctional activity, ulceration, lymphatic invasion, and degree of pigmentation by a veterinary pathologist. The association between tumor size and histologic outcomes was then statistically evaluated. RESULTS: A significant relationship was identified between the size of oral melanomas and a single variable of histologic grade, lymphatic invasion, with larger tumors more likely to show lymphatic invasion. Further analysis revealed 2 applicable size thresholds for different clinical scenarios. Results indicated lymphatic invasion can confidently be ruled out for tumors < 6.5 mm in diameter (100% sensitivity) and ruled in for tumors ≥ 24.5 mm in diameter (100% specificity). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An association was found for oral melanomas of dogs between tumor size and lymphatic invasion.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32364457/