Liver Cancer in Dog?

Question

Our mix bred dog showed to have a tumor on the liver which was detected with an ultrasound. A biopsy was performed and the vets claim it was a hepetoma (spelling ?) (growth) which needed to be removed since it would eventually cut off the blood supply to the liver. The biopsy results showed no cancer, however when the tumor was removed another biopsy was performed...is this standard? Plus the post surgical results said carcinoma on the exit sheet (before the second biopsy results were in). The vets won't tell us anything until next week.....because of the holidays even while the results are sitting in the vet's office....any ideas, is this biopsy just the confirm the results of the first? Why so many biopsies? Aren't these tests conclusive w/o having to stick the dog twice? Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, this is standard practice, especially when an ultrasound guided biopsy is done first. The reason is this: you are only taking a very tiny number of cells with the U/S biopsy... you could easily "miss" the abnormal cells in this case.

Picture a giant icecream sundae and you only have a teaspoon... you might only get whipped cream on your first spoonful. But it doesn't mean the whole thing is whipped cream

When the tumor is removed, they send in the whole thing so the pathologists can check several sections of the tumor where it connects to "normal" tissue to determine what it is and how aggressive or malignant it is.

I'm sorry you are going through the agony of waiting... it may not be so much your vet's fault as the lab where they send things to... everyone wants time off around the holidays to spend with their loved ones... but when you are waiting for important news about your furry loved one... it is quite hard.

I hope it comes back benign and that the surgery was curative!

Answer 2

It can be very common. I am a vet tech and see how hard it is sometimes to get a difinitive answer to a cancer diagnosis. It doesn't sound like you are getting the run around, just be patient and wait for the 2nd biopsy results. If the 1st biopsy was taken in a spot where there was no cancer then it can come back negative. That's why they always do a 2nd one in a different spot. Plus this time when they removed the tumor they could actually see what part they needed to biopsy for the most accurate diagnosis.

GL and Merry Christmas!

Answer 3

Just my opinion , however... First i'd get a 2d opinion for the reason that im beautiful sure the dog has melanoma isnt a right away reply. Second , if the dog walks gradual with a limp , theres some type of pain or fatigue goin on inside the dog. Get the second opinion & at the same time you get that , see if theres something the canine can take to preclude the sluggish movement & limping as a minimum until theres a optimistic or terrible on the cancer. Then which you can move on from there.

Answer 4

i would say do what they suggest especially when it comes to the biopsy. i had a cat that they suggested that i get the ultra sound done and the biopsy but didn't say it was mandatory or that they felt it was sooo important to do it right then... so i didn't... my cat died from underlying liver disease. they couldn't tell this from the blood tests and fecal tests and they had her for 3 days overnight at the animal hospital. so if you have the money and what not do what you can. i felt horrible that i didn't get the ultrasound down and the biospy but she died 3 weeks after them telling me this. so even if i had got those done... there would have been nothing they could have done to save her! I miss her greatly, do what you can!

Answer 5

basically my opinion , yet... first i could get a 2d opinion because of the fact im distinctly specific the canines has maximum cancers isnt a right away answer. 2d , if the canines walks gradual with a limp , theres some style of discomfort or fatigue goin on interior the canines. get the 2d opinion & on an analogous time as you get that , see if theres something the canines can take to dodge the gradual action & limping a minimum of till theres an outstanding or detrimental on the main cancers. then you definately can pass on from there.

Answer 6

Cancer is sometimes very hard to diagnose. Imagine receiving the diagnosis then having it not be true. I believe your vet is just being very cautious so as to not prematurely alarm everyone.