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A 9-year-old neutered male Wire Fox Terrier presented with an 1-month history of hindlimb paresis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a contrast-enhanced mass at the level of the L2 vertebral canal. The dog became paraplegic with no deep perception of the hindlimbs, and the mass was surgically removed. The histopathological diagnosis was of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). The dog suffered a relapse of right hindlimb ataxia at 225 days after the surgery. The dog died 434 days after the surgery. Necropsy found a large mass in the abdominal cavity invading from the L2-nerve. This is the first report of MPNST invading the abdominal cavity through the nerve root.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate factors associated with survival and to compare characteristics between tumour localizations in dogs with urinary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) that underwent whole-body computed tomography (CT) at diagnosis. Dogs with histologically confirmed TCC that received medical therapy between 2010 and 2017 were included; dogs that underwent surgery or radiotherapy for the primary tumour were excluded. According to the CT findings, primary tumour localization (classified into the Bladder, Urethra and Bladder and Urethra groups), prostate involvement, iliosacral lymphadenomegaly, sternal lymphadenomegaly and metastasis to the bone and lung were evaluated for survival analysis. CT at diagnosis revealed iliosacral lymphadenomegaly, sternal lymphadenomegaly, bone metastasis and lung metastasis in 47.7%, 18.5%, 24.6% and 35.4% of the 65 included dogs, respectively. The overall median survival time was 196 days. On multivariable analysis, TCC localization (hazard ratio [HR], 1.90; P = .037), bone metastasis (HR, 2.76; P = .013) and sternal lymphadenomegaly (HR, 3.56; P = .004) were significantly associated with survival. Compared to the Bladder group (n = 16), the Urethra group (n = 26) had higher metastasis rates to the bone (6.3% vs 42.3%; P = .045) and lung (6.3% vs 46.2%; P = .022). The survival time was shorter in the Urethra group than in the Bladder group (121.5 vs 420 days; P < .001), and it was similar only in female dogs (247 vs 420 days; P = .031). These findings suggest that whole-body CT could be valuable for predicting the prognosis in urinary TCC.

Although lung lobectomy is the most common treatment option for dogs with solitary lung tumors, surgery often cannot be performed at the time of diagnosis. In this retrospective, case series study, we described the effects of hypofractionated radiotherapy for tumor mass reduction in nine dogs with solitary lung adenocarcinoma that were later considered for surgical resection, and we assessed the tolerability of the radiation protocol. Tumors were deemed unresectable by the attending veterinarian. The dose prescription was 7.0-12.0 Gy/fraction in four to seven fractions, administered weekly for a total dose of 40-50 Gy. Treatment planning prioritized normal tissue dose constraints. The median interval between the last radiotherapy session and maximum tumor size reduction was 56 (range: 26-196) days, with six and three dogs exhibiting a partial response and stable disease, respectively. Although acute and late radiation-induced toxicity to the skin and/or lungs developed in all nine dogs, it was self-limiting or improved with short-term anti-inflammatory treatment. Tumor progression after initial size reduction was confirmed in three dogs at 62, 126, and 175 days, respectively, after the last radiotherapy session. Seven of the nine dogs underwent lobectomy a median of 68 days after radiotherapy when tumors were in partial response or stable disease or at the time of progression, and five received systemic chemotherapy concurrent with or after radiotherapy. These findings suggest that hypofractionated radiotherapy for canine solitary lung adenocarcinoma is useful when the tumor is large or when surgery cannot be performed immediately after diagnosis.

The prognosis for bile duct carcinoma in dogs is generally believed to be poor. However, only a few studies have evaluated the postoperative outcomes in such cases. The objective of this case series was to describe the postoperative outcomes of localized intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma in dogs. The electronic medical records of 16 dogs with bile duct carcinoma were reviewed, and 6 dogs were included in the study. All cases were diagnosed as bile duct carcinoma using postoperative pathology, and five of them had already been diagnosed using preoperative core biopsy. The tumors in all of the dogs were confirmed as completely resected on histopathological examination. Two dogs received toceranib following the surgery. The median follow-up time was 693 days (range, 420–1386 days), with a median survival time of 894 days (range, 420–1386 days). Local recurrence or distant metastases were detected in two of the six dogs (33%) on 354 and 398 days following surgery, respectively. The median progression-free survival was 492 days (range, 354–1386 days). In conclusion, dogs with localized intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma had a good prognosis following complete surgical resection.

Little evidence is available regarding the prognosis of dogs with malignant ovarian tumours. The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the outcomes and determine the prognostic factors for dogs with malignant ovarian tumours following treatment, including surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. Eighteen dogs were studied, their median age was 12 years (range: 7-15 years), and their median body weight was 6.9 kg (range: 2.3-17.8 kg). Following histopathologic diagnoses revealed that granulosa cell tumour was the most common type (n = 9), followed by dysgerminoma (n = 5), and adenocarcinoma (n = 4). Eleven dogs had surgery alone. Seven dogs had surgery with adjuvant therapy, including chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The median survival time (ST) was 1009 days when only deaths owing to the ovarian tumours were considered, and predictors of median ST were T-category (≥ T3, 443 days vs ≤ T2, 1474 days; P = .002), presence of metastatic disease (present, 391 days vs absent, 1474 days; P < .001) and lymphovascular space invasion (present, 428 days vs absent, 1474 days; P = .003) in a univariate analysis. Median ST in dogs with granulosa cell tumour seemed longer than in dogs with dysgerminoma and adenocarcinoma, although the difference was statistically insignificant (1474 days vs 458 days, respectively; P = .10). Considering the good prognosis, aggressive treatment can be recommended for dogs with malignant ovarian tumours, especially early-stage cases. Despite metastasis being present at diagnosis, half of the dogs with metastasis survived for more than 1 year.

Thymomas are one of the most common tumors of the cranial mediastinum in dogs; however there is limited information available on the use of radiation therapy for treating this neoplasm. Objectives of the current retrospective observational study were to describe outcomes and side effects of a hypofractionated radiation therapy protocol in a group of dogs with confirmed thymoma. A total of eight dogs were included. To generate individualized treatment plans, we designed the planning target volume according to the limits on mean lung dose and the percentage of the total lung volume exceeding 20 Gy (V20). The total administered dose was 48-49 Gy, with one fraction per week for a total of six to seven fractions. After therapy, two dogs achieved complete responses, two achieved partial responses, and the disease remained stable in two. Two dogs died during the radiation therapy protocol and were not classified. The median mean lung dose and V20 were 6.0 Gy (range: 3.1-15.0 Gy) and 12.4% (range: 2.3-27.5%), respectively. The overall response rate was 50.0%, and the median time to response following treatment initiation was 22 days (range: 14-115 days). Acute and late side effects were common in the skin and/or lung and were self-limiting or asymptomatic. The median survival time was not reached (range: 8-1128 days) and the 1 year survival rate was 75.0%. Hypofractionated radiation therapy was well tolerated in this sample of dogs with thymoma and may be considered when owners decline surgical treatment or the tumor is deemed unresectable.