Diagnosis and therapeutic management of osteosarcoma in dogs

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to clearly identify, diagnose, treat and manage the cases of osteosarcoma which is felt to be very essential in day to day canine clinical practice. Dogs presented to the various clinics and hospitals in Telangana with clinical signs suggestive of OSA i.e., swelling of a part of the limb, unable to bear weight, dependent edema, unhealing inflammatory swellings were referred for further evaluation. The swellings were evaluated by various confirmatory diagnostic methods like fnac, histopathology, radiographical evaluation of the swelling, ultrasonography of the effected part, radiographic evaluation showing typical moth eaten appearance or sunburn appearance of the swollen area was diagnostic. A very rare incidence of the metastatic lesions in the lungs was also observed. These diagnosed dogs were further confirmed by Histopathology of the effected part by extracting the samples. These dogs were subjected for chemotherapy (adjuvant) alone, chemotherapy after surgical excision (neo adjuvant) of the part by following the norms of oncological surgical guidelines. Twelve dogs (Group I) were subjected for chemotherapy with Inj Cisplatin @ 50 mg /m2 slow i/v once every week along with supportive therapy. Twelve dogs (Group II) were subjected to surgical excision of the effected part and after the amputation wound healing these were subjected to chemotherapy with Inj Cisplatin 50 mg @/m2 slow i/v once every week along with supportive therapy. The dogs were alleviated of the symptoms of osteosarcoma and all the hemato-biochemical parameters returned to normal after three doses of chemotherapy and the dogs lead a good quality of life without metastasis and recurrence of clinical signs of OSA.