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Exploratory Animal and Medical Research, Vol.6, Issue 2, December, 2016

Short Communication

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF NECK TUMOURS IN DOGS: CASE REPORTS

Jayakrushna Das1*, Snehasis Pradhan1, Srinivas Sathapathy2

Received 10 August 2016, revised 14 November 2016

1Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, 2Department of Anatomy and Histology,College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology,Bhubaneswar-751 003,Odisha, India.*Corresponding author. e- mail: drjohndasjajpur@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: The present study was conducted on two dogs, one pug and one mongrel presented withthe history of swelling at the base of neck. In one of the cases there was ulceration of the skin aroundthe enlarged mass and in the second case there was gradual increase in size of the mass along withbending of neck to one side and reduced appetite. Further, the physical and radiographical examinationswere conducted that confirmed the occurrence of tumour in both the cases. Under physical restraintand general anaesthesia the excision of the tumour mass was done along with the proper control ofhaemorrhage. Both the cases recovered well without any critical symptoms there of up to one yearafter surgery.

Keywords: Neck tumour, Dog, Surgical management.

A tumour (neoplasm) is caused by apurposeless multiplication of living cells and itis different from inflammatory hyperplasia(Venugopalan 2013). It is more common incarnivore as compared to other animals(Todorova 2006). Old animals are affectedmore commonly than younger ones. It isclassified clinically as benign, malignant,solitary, and multiple tumours. Benign tumoursremain local, and do not recur after excision.They are comparatively slow in growth, the skindoes not adhere to them and do not ulcerate ontheir surface. Malignant tumours developrapidly and give rise to secondary tumours in

their vicinity and at a distance, the neoplasmicelements being carried by the lymph or bloodstream (metastasis). They recur even afterexcision. The skin is usually adhered to theirsurface and is frequently ulcerated at their level.Carcinogens may be present in food grains asunrecognised plant contaminants (e.g., Seneciosp. and Crotolaria sp.) or as spoilage mouldson feeds (e.g., aflatoxin) and they act initiallyby transforming the cell after which the growthis irreversible even after removal of thecarcinogenic agent (Tyagi and Singh 2013).

In this paper two cases of affected dogs ofone pup of Pug and other of Mongrel were

Explor Anim Med Res,Vol.6, Issue - 2, 2016, p. 254-257

ISSN 2277- 470X (Print), ISSN 2319-247X (Online)Website: www.animalmedicalresearch.org

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presented with large growing mass near neckregion. As the growths were non-fluctuating andhard to touch, so suspected for neoplasticgrowth and decision of surgical excision of masswas taken to relief pain and sufferings of animal.

Case IOne Pug pup of 40 days old was presented

with a large swelling at the left lateral side ofneck with ulceration of skin covering the mass,rise of temperature, bending of neck towardsopposite side, profuse salivation andinappetance. Physical examination revealed anon fluctuating mass having its stump attachedto the Brachiocephalicus muscle, the skincovering the mass was ulcerated. Then theradiographical examination revealed radiodense substance around the region. Fromphysical and radiographical examination, thecondition was tentatively suspected to be aneoplastic growth, so decision of surgicalexcision of the mass was taken to relief painand sufferings of the animal. The owner wasadvised to keep the animal in fasting for 6 hours.The animal was restrained and anaesthetizedusing atropine @ 0.04mg/kg body weight(b.wt.), xylazine @ 0.5mg/kg b.wt. andketamine @ 3mg/kg b.wt I/M along with fluidtherapy. The site was routinely cleaned. Themass was hold properly and incision was givenon it. Then the skin and subcutaneous layerswas separated with blunt dissection and thetumour was exposed. The blood vesselssupplied to the stump was secured carefullywith proper ligation and trans-fixation, then thetumour was excised. Care was taken for jugularvein, oesophagus and laryngeal nerve to preventinjury during the excision. The muscle wassutured with Vicryl no. 1/0 suture in continuousPattern. The skin was sutured with nylon in

simple interrupted pattern. Then antisepticsolution was applied and ointment Mupirocin(Staphbana) was applied over it. The animal wasgiven Ceftriaxone sodium @ 10mg/kg b. wt.for 5 days and meloxicam @ 0.02mg/kg b.wt.for 3 days respectively.

Case 2One mongrel dog of 2 years old was

presented at the Department of VeterinarySurgery and Radiology with complaint of a largependulous growth on the mid ventral side ofneck region at sterno-thyrohyoideus musclewith ulceration over it, anorexia, fever, dullness,bending of neck to opposite side. Theradiographic study revealed radio-dense/opaquemass. The mass was not fluctuating and needleaspiration revealed no fluid inside it. Hence thecondition was suspected for any neoplasticgrowth/ tumour. The animal was fasted for 12hours and anaesthetized using atropine @0.04mg/kg body weight (b.wt.), xylazine @ 0.5mg/kg b.wt. and ketamine @ 5 mg/kg b.wt I/Malong with fluid therapy. The site was shavedroutinely cleaned and draped properly. Thependulous mass was hold and ventral midlineincision was given on it. Then the skin andsubcutaneous tissues were separated with bluntincision and the tumour was exposed. Bloodvessels supplied to the stump were ligated andthe growth was excised. The site was cleanedwith normal saline solution. The muscle wassutured with Vicryl no. 1/0 suture. The extrapendulous skin was excised and sutured withnylon in interrupted pattern. Then Povidoneiodine solution was applied and Mupirocinointment (Staphban, Sava vet pharmaceuticals)was applied over it. The animal was givenceftriaxone @ 10mg/kg b. wt. and meloxicam@ 0.02mg/kg b.wt. and the same was continued

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for 5 days as postoperative measure.Due to prompt diagnosis of the condition

with immediate attempt of surgical treatmentcould help to reduce the pain, discomfort andsufferings of the animal. The clinic-labinvestigation of blood revealed the value ofhaemoglobin, TLC, TRBC and DC were withinthe normal physiological range along withnegative for microfilaria organism. Thecomplete removal of the tumour mass was doneto prevent the reoccurrence of the condition.

Fig. 1 & 2. Showing the site of tumour in two dogs.

Fig. 3. Showing ulceration of skin over the tumour.

Fig. 4 & 5. Showing the excision of tumour mass.

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*Cite this article as: Das J, Pradhan S, Sathapathy S (2016) Surgical management of neck tumours in dogs:case reports. Explor Anim Med Res 6(2): 254-257.

The standard surgical approach for the head andneck cancers is excision of the primary lesion,followed by sampling of the periphery of theresultant defect with multiple intra-operativefrozen sections to ensure complete removal ofthe tumour. The most important prognosticfactor in patients with head and neck squamouscell carcinoma is the completeness of surgicalremoval of the tumour (Snow 1989).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThe Authors are thankful to the faculties of

Dept. of Anatomy and Histology, C.V.Sc. &A.H., OUAT, Bhubaneswar for theircooperation and guidance throughout thesurgery.

REFERENCES

Gandour-Edwards RF, Donald PJ, Lie JT (1993)Clinical utility of intraoperative frozen section

diagnosis in head and neck surgery: a qualityassurance perspective. Head and Neck Surg 15: 373-376.

Snow GB (1989) Evaluation and staging of thepatients with head and neck cancer. In: Myers ENand Suen JY, eds. Cancer of the head and neck. 2nd

edn., New York: Churchill Livingstone. 17-38.

Tyagi RPS, Singh J (2013) A Text Book ofRuminant Surgery. CBS Publishers and DistributorsPvt. Ltd., New Delhi. 412.

Todorova I (2006) Prevalence and etiology of themost common malignant tumours in dogs and cats.Bulgarian J Vet Medic 9(2): 85-98.

Venugopalan A (2013) Essentials of VeterinarySurgery, 8th edn., Oxford and IBH PublishingCompany Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. 82.

Fig. 6. Showing sutured skin after removal of themass.

Fig. 7. Showing the site after 21 days of operativeprocedure.

Surgical management of neck tumours in dogs: a case report