Oral tumors account for 6 percent of all neoplasia in dogs 1 and 10 percent of all neoplasia in cats. 2 The practitioner and staff in general practice are on the frontline of diagnosis of oral tumors, and early detection is imperative. Here are eight tips for treating oral tumors in your practice, from initial presentation to definitive treatment.
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| Radiograph showing left total and right partial mandibulectomy in a cat with squamous cell carcinoma presenting to the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service of the University of Pennsylvania. This cat is still alive five years after surgery. (Photos copyright University of Pennsylvania) |
Oral tumors are not necessarily a death sentence.
The majority of oral tumors in dogs are benign. Even the dreaded canine oral melanoma shows variability in its likelihood to metastasize. A recent manuscript found a median survival time of almost three years with small, well-differentiated oral melanomas (most were less than 1 cm) that were excised without any further radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. 3 Even with larger melanomas, immunotherapy has shown promise in decreasing the chances of death from metastasis. 4 Though the majority of oral tumors in cats are malignant, some cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma can be cured through surgery (see photos), depending on the tumor location and size.
. - Stage the patient appropriately.
Chest radiographs are important in providing i...
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