MAST CELL TUMOURS & HISTIOCYTOMAS
Here you will find information on mast cell tumours and hystiocytomas. It is vital that you are aware of the difference between these two conditions, as the treatment and outcome are vastly different. It is important to stress that no information on this page is designed to replace that of your vet and if you are ever uncertain, please seek your vet's advice in the first instance.
Mast Cell Tumours
Mast cell tumours are very common in boxers and can be life threatening if not treated quickly enough. These often appear in the form of small lumps, the most common being a mass of between 1 and 10 cm in diameter which is well formed, raised and hard to the touch. A mct can also change in size, and can shrink or grow on a daily basis.
Mast Cell Tumours can appear singularly or in groups and can appear anywhere on the body, they are unlikely to be pain-full unless severely swollen or ulcerated and there has been some observation that the more ulcerated the tumour the higher grade it is likely to be.
Tumours are graded, using the Patnaik histologic grading scale, and staged to determine their severity.
- Grade 1: Most tumours fall into this grade and occur in the skin and are considered benign. Although they can be larger and possibly harder to remove, they tend to remain in one place and not spread.
- Grade 2: These tend to grow below the skin and into the subcutaneous tissues. Cells appear to have the characteristics of being malignant and it is difficult to predict their reaction to the treatment given.
- Grade 3: These tumours are very aggressive and are hard to remove as they appear in areas inside the body. These generally involve very difficult treatments.
- Stage I - a single skin tumor with no spread to lymph nodes.
- Stage II - a single skin tumor with spread to lymph nodes in the surrounding area
- Stage III - multiple skin tumors or a large tumor invading deep to the skin with or without lymph node involvement
- Stage IV - a tumor with metastasis to the spleen, liver, bone marrow, or with the presence of mast cells in the blood
Please read Taz's story for further information on MCT or visit these external links. If you suspect your dog has a mast cell tumour - DO NOT HESITATE, always get it checked out by your vet.
Histiocytomas
Histiocytomas are generally benign tumours and are not considered an immediate health risk to the boxer. They appear has a raised, hairless and bright red or "angry" lump and are more generally found on younger dogs, around the head, limbs and ears commonly. They appear quite suddenly and can be very alarming. Histiocytomas are not painful, and most dogs do not even seem to notice them, despite the fact that the lump may be ulcerated. Most vets advise removal to avoid infection etc and so a definite diagnosis can be made via cytology or biopsy. If left a histiocytoma will either continue to grow or may spontaneously reduce in size after 3 or 4 months. If left to grow, they can get fairly large and cumbersome. Here is a photo of a histiocytoma that was left for nearly three years - it has since been removed! As with any lump or bump, we recommend you seek your vet's opinion.
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