Authors: Ajadi, A., Temitope, Ajadi, R., Adetola, Makinde, A., Folashade, Omobowale, T, Olutayo, Antia R., Edem, Nottidge, H., Olubukola, Kasali, O., Babajide
Communications in Theriogenology 2010;4(1):Doc 1
Abstract
Transmissible Venereal Tumor (TVT) is a common genital and extra-genital tumor of dogs that has been reported to metastasize to distant organs, however very little has been reported about the radiographic assessment of metastasis of the tumor.
This study describes the use of radiography in assessing canine transmissible venereal tumor metastasis. The clinical records and thoracic and abdominal radiographs of 15 dogs diagnosed with either genital, and/or extra-genital, TVTs were reviewed to evaluate the role of radiography in the recognition of TVT metastasis. In addition, the necropsy records of four of the dogs that died, or were euthanized due to recurrence, were also reviewed. The median age of the dogs in this study was 5 years (age range = 6 months to 9 years). Nine of the dogs were females and six were males. Four dogs showed radiographic evidence of tumor metastasis. Tumor evidence was noticed on the thoracic radiographs of three dogs, while one dog had evidence of tumors on the abdominal radiograph. In addition, two dogs each showed evidence of tumor metastasis to the mammary gland and the popliteal lymph nodes, while two other dogs each had metastasis to the uterus and cutaneous nodules, respectively. Tumor presence on the abdominal radiographs of one dog was evident as an enlarged sub-lumbar lymph node. Tumor metastases were seen in the liver and spleen of two dogs at necropsy. All tumor metastases were either confirmed by cytology of impression smear or by histology. Radiographic detection of tumor metastasis appeared to be better on the thoracic radiographs than the abdominal radiographs. It is therefore concluded that both thoracic and abdominal radiographs should be included in the diagnostic protocol of canine transmissible venereal tumor.
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