Small animal mammary disease Flashcards
What is the malignancy rate of mammary tumours in bitches?
35-50% malignant (assume all are malignant); of these, about 50% are likely to metastasise
Breed predisposition - mammary tumours
Poodles Spaniels English Setters Pointers Maltese Yorkshire terriers Dachsunds Dobermans
Outline mammary tumours in male dogss
Do occur
Rare (<1%)
Likely to be malignant
Outline mammary tumours in cats?
Less common in cats that bitches
90% are malignant
Common site of mammary tumour metastasis
Common - LNs and lung
Other sites - liver, kidney, bone, heat
Cause - mammary tumours
- Hormonal influence likely - 90% benign tumours and 50% malingnant canine tumours have E2 and P4 receptors
- Metastatic mammary tumours tend to lose both of these types of receptor
- Some feline tumours contain P4-R, rarely E2-R
- Other - over/under expression of genes, adhesion molecules, VEGF, COX-2, other factors
Risk factors - mammary tumours - 5
- Increasing age (>9.5 years)
- Obese early in life (<1 year, esp if fed home-cooked red mince)
- Progestagen treatment (increases risk of benign in dogs and malignant in cats)
- Dogs with benign mammary tumours have a 3-fold risk of developing malignant mammary tumours
- Intact status or bitches spayed after 2.5 years
Outline relative risk of mamary tumours in BITCHES after spaying after different seasons
RELATIVE RISK: Spayed before first season: 0.05% After 1st season: 8% After 2nd season: 26% After 3rd season: no protective effect
This is a 1969 study, recent systematic review found limited evidence to support this.
Outline relative risk of mamary tumours in QUEENS after spaying after different seasons
RELATIVE RISK:
spayed before 6 months: 9%
6-12 months: 14%
>1 year: no protective effect
List some clinical signs that may be referable to metastases
constipation, lameness, coughing etc.
What should you check when you find a mammary mass?
Size Single or multiple One/both mammary chains Canine - most common in caudal glands Moveable or fixed \+/- ulcerated Also palpate axillary and inguinal LNs Rectal exam - enlarged sublumbar LNs
Incidence of inflammatory carcinoma
Uncommon (8% mammary tumours)
Agrressive
Presents as diffuse swelling rather than discrete mass
Often massive oedema, erythema, pain, progresses rapidly, highly metastatic, systemically ill
Outline typical features of feline mammary masses
often not a discrete mass OR there are multiple masses (>50%), and they are more often (25%) ulcerated.
>80% are adenocarcinomas
List benign mammary tumour types
Adenoma/firboadenoma
Benign mesenchymal tumour
Benign mixed tumour
List some malignant mammary tumour types
Carcinoma - solid, tubular, papillary, anaplastic/inflammatory Sarcoma Carcinosarcoma Adenocarcinoma Sarcoma
List DDx for enlarged or inflammed mammary glands - 5
Mastitis Galactostasis Galactorrhea Mammary hyperplasia Skin=cutaneous/subcutaneous tumours
When might mastitis occur?
Postpartum bitches
Occasionally after oestrous or false pregnancy
Treatment - bitch mastitis
IV fluid therapy if dehydrated
IV AB therapy until resolved (usually 7 days)
Cephalosporins - good empirical choice - BS of activity against likely bacteria (E. coli) and are likely to reach effective concentrations in infected glands
Surgically rain mammary abscesses
Puppies can continue to nurse if bitch accepts and enough nutrition
Define galactostasis
accumulation and stasis of milk within mammary gland of nursing bitches (occasionally false pregnancy)
Secretions: not infected
Self-resolving at weaning or peak lactation
Define galactorrhea
Lactation that is NOT associated with pregnancy and parturition (i.e. during false pregnancy)
Pathophysiology of galactorrhea
Results from increased PRL secretion which is stimulated by falling P4 levels in late dioestrous.
Usually self-limiting, no Tx required
Withholding food (24h) followed by gradual return to normal quantities helps reduce lactation
Mammary hyperplasia - when and what?
Rapid abnormal growth of mammary tissue that is most commonly seen in YOUNG, entire female cats 2-4 weeks after oestrous due to elevated P4 concentrations (irrespective of whether they have become pregnant or not). Benign Usually resolves once P4 declines Biopsy - to rule out other DDx Neutering - prevents recurrence
How are mammary neoplasias staged?
T = Tumour size = T1< 3cm, T2 3-5cm, T3 = >5cm
N = Regional Lymph node = N0 no metastasis, N1 = metastasis (on histopathology)
M = Distant metastasis = M0 not present, M1 = present
List diagnostic tests for enlarged mammary glands
Haematology and biochemistry Radiography Ultrasound FN aspiration Coagulogram Surgical biopsy IHC
Why run haematology and biochemistry?
to make sure geriatric patients are safe to anaesthetise - kidneys and liver most important
What radiography?
chest and abdomen - check for lung and sublumbar LN metastases which are present in 25-50% dogs with malignant tumours at time of diagnosis.
CT = more sensitive