Published : Dec. 3, 2024
This study examined the histopathologic distribution of canine splenic masses treated by splenectomy at a privately owned specialty practice. The results confirmed the low frequency of malignant splenic lesions and HSA in dogs, with only 32.4% identified. Malignant splenic lesions were identified in 42.3% of the dogs, while most splenic lesions were benign, with 57.7% being benign.
The double two-thirds and the fifty-fifty rules have been established to guide veterinarians and owners in deciding when splenic lesions are diagnosed. However, preoperative diagnostics do not provide conclusive evidence regarding the malignancy of splenic masses in dogs. Hematologic abnormalities have been documented in dogs with HSA and splenic malignancies, with thrombocytopenia and anemia being associated with a higher risk of perioperative death or shorter postoperative survival times in dogs undergoing splenectomies.
The study found that dogs with low platelet count (60K-117K u/L) were 21.4 times more likely to have HSA when compared to dogs with normal PLT. Additionally, dogs with low HCT (<33%) had 3.1 times the odds of an HSA diagnosis compared with dogs with a normal HCT.
Hemoperitoneum, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and smaller diameter of splenic lesions were risk factors for HSA. These factors are associated with hemorrhage, and researchers recommend strongly considering them when evaluating splenic masses and deciding whether to perform splenectomies.
The study revealed that most (93.9%) splenic masses discovered incidentally were benign. Therefore, extra caution is advised when considering splenectomy in dogs that do not exhibit clinical signs of malignant splenic disease or have evident risk factors for malignancy. The information provided by the study could be useful for veterinarians when evaluating options, risk factors, and prognoses for HSA and the possibility of malignancy and when discussing the above with clients.
Historically, German shepherds, Retrievers, and Boxers were overrepresented in cases with hemangiosarcoma. Recent studies have found associations between breed and weight or size of the dog and the likelihood of HSA or splenic malignancy. However, the overall breed-size category was not a statistically significant predictor of HSA in this study.
The survival to discharge rate in this study was 91%, with 50% of the 16 dogs not successfully discharged having a malignancy diagnosis and 50% having benign disease. Further caution and exhaustive exploration of risk factors for malignancy might be warranted when splenectomy decisions are made in dogs with splenic lesions or hemoperitoneum.