1. TUMORS OF THE FEMALE
GENITAL TRACT
Camila Valbuena

2. • Mammary tumors are the second most
common tumours of dogs (second to
skin tumours). (Multon, 1999).
• Early OHE protects female dogs from
developing mammary cancer in later life.
(Schneider, 1969)
• Preventable condition

3. PATHOGENESIS
Protection
against
developing
mammary
tumours
Under
hormonal
influence
The exact
mechanism and
interactions at the
celullar level that
lead to development
of malignant
mammary tumors
are unknown.
OHE
(Misdorp, Stoving & Grace, 1917).

4. Prolonged,
dose-related
exposure to
synthetic
progestins
Induce
proliferation
of mammary
epithelial
cells
(Misdorp, Stoving & Grace, 1917).
Genetic
Errors
Development
of mammary
tumors
(benign and
malignant)

5. HORMONAL
THERAPY (ANTIOESTROGEN
DRUGS)
METASTASIC
DISEASE IN
OESTROGENRECEPTORPOSITIVE TUMOURS

6. MALIGNANT PRIMARY TUMORS
positive to
oestrogen,
progesterone
and prolactin
receptors on
canine
mammary
tumours.
(Rutteman & Misdorp, 1993).

7. Clinical signs
• Presence of a mass associated with the
mammary tissue.
• Caudal mammary glands are more frequently
involved than the cranial glands
• Tumours can be present as either isolated
lumps or multiples.
• Usually these lumps are not painful
• Lumps may appear and remain static or grow
rapidly

8. Evaluation of the patient
Signalment
History
Physical
examination
• females between 6 and 10 years of age
• In males is rare (-1%) , affected male dogs may have an oestrogensecreting sertoli cell tumour of the testis.
• Mammary neoplasia is rarely seen in young dogs
• Bening hyperplasia can be seen in dogs during metoestrus,
pregnancy or after treatment with preogestins
•
•
•
•
reproductive status of the patient
stage of oestrus cycle
time the lumb has been present
if it has grown since first noticed
palpated for size, any enlargement of the draining lymph nodes
and any ulceration
Incisional biopsies staging and surgical planning
Excisional
biopsies
appropiate to provide diagnosis, prognosis and treatment in one step

9. Staging the patient
• Establish a minimun database of routine
biochemistry, haematology and urinalysis
• Physically check the draining lymph nodes for
any enlargement. Evaluation for neoplastic
cells.
• Thoracic radiographs, CT for detection of
pulmonary metastatic disease.

13. Carcinomas
Most common
Draining lymph nodes
Epithelial
tissue
INFLAMMATORY
CARCINOMAS
Connective
tissue
Lungs
Bone
Simple (epithelium
alone) or complex
(myoepithelium)
Liver
Severe and rapid
spread (legs)
Brain
Red, hot, painful
Inoperable
Carcino
sarcomas
Sarcomas, poor prognosis, dogs die within 9 to 12 months
Extraskeletal
osteosarcoma
Mast cell tumours
Lymphoma
Guarded prognosis due to
early metastatic spread
(lungs)
Treated as any mast cell
tumor
Isolated mass

14. Treatments
Surgery
- Lumpectomy
- Mamectomy
- Regional
masectomy
Chemotherapy Radiotherapy
Reserved for
patients at risk of
metastes
- Dexorubicin
- Dexorubicin
and
cyclophospham
ide
- Dexorubicin
and docetaxel
Hormonal
Therapy
Locally recurrent
diseases that ir
not amenable to
surgery
Patients with
regional
metastases to
lymph nodes
also not
ameneable for
surgery
In study

15. Pain?

16. MAMMARY CARCINOMA IN A FEMALE DOG
• Signalment: 10-year-old entire basset hound
• Presenting signs: a rapidly growing mass affecting her second mammary gland on the left-hand
side
• Case history: full vaccinated, had not travelled outside the uk, history of recurrent otitis
externa, mass (initially was 2 cm in diameter, firm, movable, underneath the skin), over the
following next 12 weeks the mass grew so much that it started to touch the floor
• Clinical evaluation: she allowed palpation without any apparent signs of discomfort, the mass
measured 15 cm in diameter, it was firm and irregular without skin abrasions or discharge from
the nipple. Cardiopulmonary auscultation andabdominal palpation were unremarkable, palpation
of the axillary lymph node failed to reveal any enlargement.
• Diagnostic evaluation: left and right lateral thoracic rafiographs were obtained which revealed
no evidence of metastic disease, abdominal ultrasound in inguinal nodes, liver and spleen were
normal.
• Diagnosis: high grade complex mammary carcinoma, stage III (histopathology)
• Treatment: regional mastectomy during which glands 1,2 and 3 on the left-hand side were all
excised. Active suction drains to reduce the risk of fluid accumulation
• Outcome: postoperative recovery was good, she was discharged 3 days later. The owners
declined any adjunctive treatment and the dog remained well, she´s still well (till written).

17. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• SMALL ANIMAL ONCOLOGY, Saunders (ELSEVIER) solutions in
veterinay practice. FOALE, ROB. DEMETRIOU, JACKOE. 2010
• AN INTRODUCTION, SMALL ANIMAL ONCOLOGY. Saunders,
Elsevier. NORTH, SUSAN. BANKS, TANIA.
• ONCOLOGY FOR VETERINARY TECHINICIANS AND NURSES.
Wiley-Blackwell. MOORE, ANTONY. FRIMBERGER, ANGELA.
• CANCER MANAGEMENT IN SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE.
Saunders, Elsevier. HENRY, CAROLYN. HOGGINBOTHAN, MARY
LINN.