Small Animal - Mammary Neoplasia Flashcards
What is the incidence of mammary tumours in dogs?
Common in female dogs
35-50% are malignant
Rare in male dogs and likely to be malignant
Which dog breeds are more predisposed to mammary tumours?
Poodles Spaniels English setters Pointers Maltese Yorkshire terriers Dachshunds Dobermans
What is the incidence of mammary disease in cats?
Less common
90% are malignant
What are common sites of mammary tumour metastasis?
Lymph nodes - common Lungs - common Liver kidney Bone Heart
What is the likely cause of mammary tumours?
Hormonal - 90% benign and 50% malignant canine tumours have oestrogen and progesterone receptors
What, apart from homonal, are other aetiological factors that affect mammary neoplasia?
Gene over-expression Gene under-expression Adhesion molecules VEGF Cox-2 Other factors
What are the risk factors for mammary tumours?
Increasing age - 9.5 years on average
Dogs obese early on in life
Progestagen treatment increases risk - benign in dogs, malignant in cats
Benign mammary tumours increase risk of malignancy 3 times
Intact status or bitches after 2.5 years of age
What is the usual clinical presentation of mammary tumours?
Owner noticed a mass
Incidental finding on physical examination
Occasionally signs referable to metastases
Why is it important to palpate all the mammary glands?
Masses may be variable in size
Multiple different masses may be found
Masses amy be in one or bothchains
What glands are canine mammary tumours most common in?
Caudal glands
What must also be palpated when mammary tumours present?
Axillary lymph nodes
Inguinal lymph nodes
Rectal may reveal enlarged sublumbar lymph nodes
What does inflammatory carcinoma present as?
Diffuse swelling rather than discrete mass Massive oedema Erythema Pain in multiple glands Rapidly progresses Highly metastatic Systemic illness
What tumour types can present as mammary tumours?
Benign - adenoma, fibro-adenoma, benign mesenchymal tumour, benign mixed tumour
Malignant - carcinoma (solid, tubular, papillary, anaplastic/inflammatory), sarcoma, carcinosarcoma
What are the differential diagnoses for mammary lumps?
Mastitis Galactostasis Galactorrhoea Mammary hyperplasia Cutaneous/subcutaneous tumour
What animals is mastitis more common in?
Post-partum bitches
When can mastitis occasionally occur?
After oestrus or falso pregnancy
Describe mastitis
Glands - firm, swollen, painful Pyrexia Depression Inappetance Puppy neglect
Describe mastitis treatment
If dehydrated - IV therapy
IV antibiotics until resolved - usually 7 days
Cephalosporins a good choice
Abscesses need to bedrained surgically
What is galactostasis?
Accumulation and stasis of milk within mammary gland in nursing bitches
Describe galactostasis
Glands - warm, firm, swollen and painful
Secretions not infected
Describe galactostasis treatment
Self resolving
Gradual weaning
Food reduction helps ease transition
What is galactorrhea?
Lactation that occurs when it is not associated with pregnancy and parturition
What does galactorrhea result from?
Increased prolactin secretion
Stimulated by falling progesterone levels in late dioestrus
What treatment is required for galactorrhea?
Usually self limiting
Doesn’t require treatment
Withholding food for 24 hours followed by fradual return helps reduce lactation
What is mammary hyperplasia most commonly seen in?
Young, entire female cats
2-4 weeks after oestrus