Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with large fatty tumor under skin that led to death
By Badial, Peres Ramos et al.·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2026·Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Well-Differentiated, Low-Grade Subcutaneous Liposarcoma With a Fatal Outcome in a Dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old male Rottweiler was brought to the vet because of a large, fast-growing lump on his right front leg. The vet found that the mass was firm and raised, and tests showed it was a low-grade liposarcoma, which is a type of cancer. Unfortunately, the dog's owner chose not to pursue any treatment, and the dog passed away three months later, likely due to the cancer spreading. This case emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and treatment of lumps on dogs, as even low-grade tumors can lead to serious outcomes if left untreated.
People also search for: Rottweiler lump on leg · dog liposarcoma treatment options · why is my dog losing weight · dog cancer symptoms · subcutaneous mass in dogs
Abstract
A 10-year-old intact male Rottweiler was presented with a large, rapidly growing subcutaneous mass on the right thoracic limb. Physical examination revealed a firm, raised, non-ulcerated mass extending from the proximal scapula to the distal humerus. Cytological evaluation identified a highly cellular population of vacuolated cells with marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis, consistent with a lipid-rich mesenchymal neoplasm. Histopathology of incisional biopsies confirmed a well-differentiated, low-grade subcutaneous liposarcoma. The owner declined therapeutic and surgical treatments. The dog died 3 months after diagnosis, with clinical signs suggestive of metastatic disease. This case highlights the importance of comprehensive tumour assessment for accurate grading, staging and effective management of canine soft tissue sarcomas, including liposarcomas. Liposarcoma should be considered a differential diagnosis for subcutaneous masses in the proximal limbs of dogs. Early diagnosis, accurate grading, complete staging and prompt surgical intervention, including limb amputation if warranted, are critical even for histologically well-differentiated, low-grade variants.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41944343/