Elekidou E. DVM, MSc, PhD student, Surgery and Obstetrics Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Tsitsilianou A. DVM, Postgraduate student, Surgery and Obstetrics Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Fragkou F. DVM, PhD, Private Practitioner, Thessaloniki | Ververidis C. DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Surgery and Obstetrics Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Introduction
Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumour (TVT) can be treated with several methods. Chemotherapy is the most effective, but it can cause side effects. In localized masses, surgical excision combined with chemotherapy is recommended in order to reduce chemotherapy repetitions. The aim of the study is to present three clinical cases of TVT, where surgical excision with parallel chemotherapy was applied.
Clinical cases
Three intact young dogs were presented, 1 male with 3 pedunculated penile masses, 1 female with a pedunculated vaginal mass and 1 female with TVT mass in the clitoris fold, resistant to chemotherapy. Diagnosis was based on clinical features and cytological examination of the masses. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs showed no metastases. Therapeutically, after coverage of the masses to prevent neoplastic cell dispersion, surgical excision was applied, in combination with intravenous infusion of vincristine [0,6 mg (m2)-1] in 3 weekly administrations.
Results
With this treatment TVT masses were fully excised and recurrence was not observed.
Conclusions
Surgical excision of the masses combined with chemotherapy proved to be a curative protocol in these cases. Surgical excision hastened recovery, reduced the need for repetitional chemotherapies and the occurrence of side effects.
