Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma Managed in First Opinion Practice: Outcome in 350 Cases. Issue 7 (12th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bray, Jonathan P.; Polton, Gerry A.; McSporran, Keith D.; Bridges, Janis; Whitbread, Trevor M.
• Is Part Of: Veterinary surgery. Volume 43:Issue 7(2014)
• Page Start: 774
• Page End: 782
• Publication Date: 2014-04-12
• Subjects: Veterinary surgery -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Surgery -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; 636.0897
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12185.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-3499

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="vsu12185-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To determine outcome of dogs with a diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma managed in first opinion practice.</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12185-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Study Design</title> <p>Retrospective, case‐controlled study</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12185-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Dogs (n = 350) with primary occurrence of a soft tissue sarcoma.</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12185-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A previously validated questionnaire was sent to all veterinarians requesting clinical information and ultimate outcome for all dogs. Histologic sections were reviewed by a single pathologist.</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12185-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Most surgeries were unplanned, with only 15 (4%) dogs having a histologic and 59 (16.8%) dogs having a cytologic diagnosis before surgery. Median survival time for all dogs was not reached with 70% proportional survival at 5 years. Local recurrence developed in 73 (20.8%) cases. The extent of resection performed was not associated with improved survival (<italic>P</italic> = .2) or tumor recurrence (<italic>P</italic> = .8). Age <8 years (χ<sup>2</sup> = 6.1; <italic>P</italic> = .01), tumors <5 cm in size (χ<sup>2</sup> = 9.6; <italic>P</italic> = .002) and discrete tumors (χ<sup>2</sup> = 16.6; <italic>P</italic> < .001) had improved survival outcomes. On multivariate analysis, a high tumor grade was significant for recurrence (HR 5.8; <italic>P</italic> < .001; 95% CI: 2.2–14.8). Evidence of a selection bias towards less aggressive tumors being managed in first opinion practice was confirmed.</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12185-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Wide resection margins are not the primary determinant of outcome for all soft tissue sarcoma. Veterinarians need to better understand the biologic behavior of a suspected soft tissue sarcoma before treatment to allow surgical margins to be adjusted accordingly.</p> </sec> </abstract>