Haemangiosarcoma

Signalment

• Often found in older German Shepherd Dogs and Golden Retrievers

Description

The origin of abdominal haemangiosarcoma is often from the spleen. Neoplastic cells are implanted into the abdomen, causing widespread peritoneal seepage of blood or metastasise to the liver and lungs. This is a highly malignant disease.

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

• Collapse; due to rupture of the mass, leading to a haemoabdomen
• Abdominal effusion
• 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

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.

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.