Haemangiosarcoma
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Description
A highly malignant tumour of vascular endothelial origin. They commonly affect dogs and the most frequently affected areas are the spleen, pericardium, right atrium, liver and muscle. The origin of abdominal haemangiosarcoma is often from the spleen.
Signalment
Often found in older German Shepherd Dogs and Golden Retrievers
Golden RetrieverMonika Mężyńska (2005); WikiMedia Commons
German Shepherd (Alsatian)Ellen Levy Finch (22/02/04); WikiMedia Commons
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
Animals often present Collapsed; due to rupture of the mass, leading to a haemoabdomen. Otherwise Lethargy, weakness, pallor and anorexia may preceed a major bleed.
Laboratory Tests
Haematology
Anaemia; may be regenerative if due to blood loss, or microangiopathic due to the passage of red blood cells through the microvascular network of the tumour
Biochemistry
Other Tests
Diagnostic Imaging
Radiography
This may be able to reveal any masses, provided there is minimal peritoneal fluid.
Ultrasonography
This is sensitive in indentifying liver and splenic masses.
Pathology
Cholangiocellular - bile duct
- can be primary in the liver
- other predilection sites
- spleen
- right auricle of the heart
- prevalent in large breeds
From Spleen Pathology
distinguished from the superficially similar haemangioma by the presence of much more formed, solid tumour tissue
- accurate prognosis demands histological examination
- secondaries are common locally in the omentum and in the liver
The course of disease is usually short, often only a month or two and metastases may occur in almost every organ.
Histopathology
Biopsy of any masses will provide a definitive diagnosis. This is needed to differentiate haemangiosarcoma from splenic haematoma, haemangioma and accessory splenic tissue.
Treatment
Surgery
This is useful if there are any solitary masses that can be excised.
Chemotherapy
This will provide a palliative treatment for animals with multiple masses or as an adjuvant therapy post-operatively.
Prognosis
Poor due to high risk of metastasis in the early course of the disease.
References
Ettinger, S.J. and Feldman, E. C. (2000) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diseases of the Dog and Cat Volume 2 (Fifth Edition) W.B. Saunders Company.
Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition) BSAVA
Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition) Mosby Elsevier.