Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Predicting skin tumor return in dogs and cats after surgery using
By Scarpa, Filippo et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2012·Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Use of histologic margin evaluation to predict recurrence of cutaneous malignant tumors in dogs and cats after surgical excision.
Plain-English summary
A group of 40 dogs and 20 cats with skin tumors underwent surgery to remove their tumors, and the edges of the removed tissue were examined to see if they were clear of cancer cells. It was found that tumors with clean margins had a much lower chance of coming back compared to those with close or infiltrated margins. In fact, nearly half of the animals experienced a recurrence within two years, especially those with close or infiltrated margins. This study suggests that checking the surgical margins can help predict if the tumor might return, and careful follow-up is important for at least two years after surgery.
People also search for: dog skin tumor surgery · cat tumor recurrence after surgery · how to prevent dog tumor return
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of histologic evaluation of surgical margins to predict local recurrence of cutaneous malignant tumors in dogs and cats treated by means of surgical excision. DESIGN: Prospective case series. ANIMALS: 40 dogs and 20 cats. PROCEDURES: 60 surgically excised tumors (20 soft tissue sarcomas [STSs], 20 mast cell tumors [MCTs], and 20 carcinomas) were examined histologically. Margins were classified as clean, close, or infiltrated; histologic grade was assessed in STSs and MCTs. Recurrence rates and recurrence-free intervals (RFIs) during a 24-month follow-up period were recorded, and method accuracy was calculated. RESULTS: Surgical margins were clean in 29 of 60 (48%) tumors, close in 11 (18%), and infiltrated in 20 (33%). Tumors recurred in 27 of 60 (45%) animals, with a mean ± SD RFI of 229 ± 173 days. Recurrence rates for animals that had tumors with infiltrated (16/20) or close (8/11) margins were significantly higher than recurrence rate for animals that had tumors with clean margins (3/29). Margin classification was a significant predictor of RFI. Accuracy of the method to predict recurrence was 94% for carcinomas, 87% for STSs, and 76% for MCTs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Histologic assessment of margin status was useful for predicting local recurrence of cutaneous malignant tumors in dogs and cats treated by means of excision alone. Method accuracy varied among tumor types and grades. Recurrence times suggested postsurgical follow-up should continue for ≥ 2 years. Results were similar for animals with infiltrated and close tumor margins, and careful postsurgical management is recommended for both.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22559107/