GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Biologic Behaviour

•signalment: purebred male dogs of miniature breeds

•clinical signs: anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea

•hematology: anemia, hypoproteinemia, and mastocytemia are common

•GI ulceration is a common finding

•100% metastatic rate with metastatic sites including regional lymph nodes (common), liver, spleen, heart, and lungs

CLINICAL FEATURES

Clinical Signs

•anorexia, weight loss, intermittent vomiting, and diarrhea

•severe, persistent vomiting is occasionally observed if proximal small intestinal tumor causes obstruction

Diagnosis

Physical Examination

•palpable abdominal mass and cachexia are common

•other findings include dehydration and abdominal pain

Laboratory Tests

•anemia and leukocytosis are common in dogs with non-lymphoid intestinal tumors

Abdominal Radiographs

•abdominal mass, obstruction, or persistent irregularity of bowel appearance are identified in 25% of small intestinal tumors and nearly 50% of non-lymphoid intestinal tumors

•abdominal mass is detected in 60% of canine mesenchymal small intestinal tumors

Contrast Radiography

•intestinal mass identified in 57% of dogs with non-lymphoid intestinal tumors

•contrast radiographs: mural lesions include luminal filling defect, intestinal wall thickening, mucosal ulceration, abnormal positioning of intestinal loops, and constricting annular lesions

Ultrasonography

•intestinal mass identified in 87% (13/15) dogs with non-lymphoid small intestinal tumors

•loss of wall layering is an excellent predictive factor for differentiating intestinal neoplasia from enteritis in dogs (99% v 12%) with intestinal tumors 50.9-times more likely to have loss of wall layering

•intestinal tumors also have significant increases intestinal wall thickness (15 mm v 6 mm) and are significantly less likely to have diffuse intestinal involvement (2% v 72%)

Exploratory Celiotomy

•definitive diagnosis with exploratory celiotomy and biopsy

TREATMENT

Surgery

•debilitation and hypoproteinemia may complicate treatment

•exploratory celiotomy with resection and end-to-end anastomosis with 4-8 cm margins and serosal patching

•mesenteric and regional lymph nodes should be assessed ± aspirated

Chemotherapy

•chemotherapy is recommended for intestinal MCT

Prognosis

•MST 16 days with 100% tumor-related mortality within 2 months of diagnosis

•100% metastatic rate