Great News for Lady Mast !

Lady’s TINY LUMP ended up being a BIG DEAL & reminds us why we say “DON’T WAIT ASPIRATE! ”

DIGITAL CYTOLOGY
=Immediate Cellular Analysis By Pathologist

Digital cytology(thanks to @idexx ) allowed our team to rapidly diagnose Lady’s tumor!

Mast cell tumors (MCT) are a common skin tumor found in dogs. Mast cells are found in the body & play a role in the body’s response to inflammation & allergens. A MCT is a cancer that arises from mast cells.

MCT are less common in cat & typically occur in older Poodle but can be seen in Dog as young as 3 months. Male & female dog are affected equally. Certain dog breeds like Boxers, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, Pit Bull Terriers, Weimaraners, & Rhodesian Ridgebacks are more prone to MCT.

Unfortunately, MCT don’t have a characteristic form. Their appearance can be big, small, firm, soft, raised, flat, covered with hair or ulcerated & can be found anywhere on the skin’s surface. An interesting feature is how they can quickly fluctuate in size. If you see a new lump, bump, or ulcerated lesion on your pet schedule a vet !

Since MCT are locally invasive & can metastasize/spread to other body parts, treatment involves wide surgical removal of the lesion & surrounding tissue. All tissue is sent to a lab for histopathology to ensure the tumor was removed completely & determine grade. Depending on the reported margins & grade (appearance of the tumor) further therapy may involve additional surgery, chemotherapy, & radiation therapy.

The prognosis depends on the location, size of the lesion, surgical margins, whether it has spread (metastasized) & tumor grade. Your vet/oncologist will be able to give you a prognosis based on these factors. As with many diseases, early detection & removal of MCT increases the likelihood of successful treatment