Abdominal Tumors Flashcards
Tumors on the inside
Requirements
Imaging is a must!
May not show any clinical signs (geriatric radiographs are a good idea)
Tumors on the inside
Treatments
Surgery; may not be able to remove (heart base, pancreas)
Radiation: surrounding tissues will get damaged
Chemotherapy: poorly responsive (liver and kidney removing the drugs)
Targeted therapy: still in the works
Abdominal Tumors
Major tumor types (2)
Carcinomas (most)
Some round cell or sarcomas
Abdominal Tumors
Organs affected
GI tract Pancreas Liver Kidney Bladder Ovaries/Uterus Testicles/Prostate Adrenal glands Spleen Lymph nodes
Gastrointestinal Tract Tumors
Signalment
Presentation
Middle age or older
Weight loss Vomiting Diarrhea Inappetance PU/PD
May just palpate a mass in the abdomen
Gastrointestinal Tract
Diagnostics
Abdominal imaging; usually ultrasound
Thoracic radiographs
+/- cytology of mass (be careful about seeding; but may be treating with chemotherapy -systemic- and therefore would not matter)
Gastrointestinal Tract Tumors: Lymphoma
Treatment
Requires chemotherapy
Could try to surgically remove some of it
Gastrointestinal Tract Tumors: Adenocarcinoma
Treatment
Surgery; must get good margins
> 44% metastasize
Chemotherapy is ineffective
Gastrointestinal Tract Tumors: Leiomyoma/Leiomyosarcoma
Treatment
Surgery; must get good margins
Chemotherapy may help (Doxorubicin)
Bladder Tumors
Most Common
Uroepithelial transitional cell carcinoma
Bladder Tumors
Signalment
Usually small breed
Older dogs
Scottish terriers and Shelties over represented
Bladder Tumors
Presenting Signs
Pollakiuria
Stranguria
Dysuria
Urinary obstruction
Look for more than an infection!
Transitional Cell Carcinoma
Biologic Behavior
Local signs
If mass blocks urine outflow it can be fatal
Can metastasize but generally not detected
Transitional Cell Carcinoma
Diagnostics
Thoracic radiographs
Abdominal imaging-ultrasound
CT (need to give contrast so be wary of kidney function)
Biopsy (can do via catheter)
Cytology (can seed the abdomen but will most likely do systemic therapy -chemotherapy-)
Transitional Cell Carcinoma
Surgery Prognosis
Complete resection: 12-13 months
