oncology

Question 1

why be concerned about cancer in dogs and cats

Answer 1

1. cancer is common
2. most are treatable
3. expectations of pet owners
4. impact on client attitudes

Question 2

two big things in treating cancer:

Answer 2

1. clearly defined tx goals
2. biologic behaviour dictates tx

Question 3

curative intent therapy

Answer 3

extends QOL, not guaranteed cure
need specific knowledge of tumour, complex therapy, short term toxicity, expensive

Question 4

clinical evaluation provides 5 pieces of information

Answer 4

1. definitive histopath diagnosis w tumour grade
2. clinical stage of disease
3. paraneoplastic syndromes
4. concurrent medical conditions
5. detailed patient baseline

Question 5

palliative therapy

Answer 5

doesnt try to extend life, doesnt need detailed knowledge

Question 6

2 major categories of cancer therapy

Answer 6

local disease, systemic
treat accordingly

Question 7

canine lymphoma causes, presentation

Answer 7

genetic in boxers, goldens
environmental toxins
6-9y, multicentric, no systemic illness

Question 8

canine lymphoma dx

Answer 8

definitive diagnosis, clinical stage, paraneoplastic syndrome, concurrent disease, baseline

Question 9

canine lymphoma staging

Answer 9

I- single node
II- multiple nodes on one side of diaphragm
III- generalized LN
IV- stages I-III w liver/spleen
V- I-IV w BM involvment

substage a- no systemic illness
b- systemic illness

Question 10

canine lymphoma tx

Answer 10

chemo- CHOP protocol (doxorubicin)
can have toxicity-> alopecia, GI, vascular necrosis

survival 6-14m

Question 11

canine lymphoma prognosis

Answer 11

worse for stage IV-V, worse for substage b
B cell better prognosis, w response to therapy

Question 12

feline lymphoma

Answer 12

feLV associated thymic
older cats GI
C/S VARY, can be anywhere-> anorexia, weight loss

Question 13

feline lymphoma dx

Answer 13

big 5 things (dx, stage, paraneoplastic, concurrent disease, baseline)

Question 14

feline lymphoma staging

Answer 14

I- single tumour extranodal or single area nodal
II- single tumour w regional LN, GI tumour
III- two tumour on either side of diaphragm, nonresectable abd tumour
IV- stages I-III w liver/spleen
V- I-IV w CNS, BM, or both

substages a/b-> w, w/o systemic illness

Question 15

feline lymphoma tx, prognosis

Answer 15

chemo- survival 7m w doxorubicin (high grade)
adjunct local therapy (radiation, sx)

prognosis- feLV status, better w stage I/II, substage a

Question 16

canine mast cell tumour

Answer 16

most common canine skin tumour, older dogs
single skin mass, rapid growth if malignant

Question 17

canine MCT dx/grading

Answer 17

histopath grading (patnaik or kiupel)
patnaik:
I- benign
II- intermediate malignancy (80%)
III- highly malignant

Question 18

canine MCT tx, prognosis

Answer 18

surgery-> resection curative for grade I and II
50% grade II come back
radiotherapy better for grade II
consider chemo for high risk II or III
survival <6m after sx for grade III

Question 19

feline MCT forms

Answer 19

cutaneous, visceral
mastocytic-> older cats, most common dermal, white/pink nodules, benign
histiocytic-> young cats, pink nodules w granules, spontaneously regress in 4m-2y

50% are visceral-> older cats, more malignant
systemically ill-> splenomegaly, abd mass/effusion

Question 20

feline MCT tx, prognosis

Answer 20

prognosis excellent for cutaneous
sx curative, submit for histopath
visceral-> splenectomy, can try chemo

prognosis worse for males, anorexia, weight loss

Question 21

canine osteosarcoma

Answer 21

85% of bone tumours, middle aged to older dogs
lg breeds, highly malignant
C/S- lameness, swelling, pathologic fx. away from elbow, towards knee-> mets to lung

Question 22

canine osteosarcoma tx

Answer 22

amputation of leg-> 3-4m survival
chemo- doxorubicin-> 1-2y
radiation if no amputation

Question 23

feline osteosarcoma

Answer 23

most common in cats, less than in dogs
NOT METASTATIC
older cats, HL. lameness

Question 24

feline osteosarcoma tx

Answer 24

aggressive resection-> amputation
no adjuvant therapy, could do radiation
excellent prognosis with sx