title: Principles of surgery for cancer palliation and treatment of metastases.
abstract: Surgery in animals for palliation of clinical signs and treatment of cancer metastases is becoming more popular. Patients must be selected carefully and clear treatment goals established to maximize efficacy and minimize treatment-related morbidity and mortality. Palliative treatment is rendered primarily to control clinical signs and secondarily to prolong life. Ironically, metastasectomy is often performed with the intent to cure. For both considerations, the clinician must be knowledgeable of the natural history of the affecting neoplasia (i.e., how will the patient fare without treatment) and the success rates and expected complications of the surgical procedures being considered. Clinical guidelines for patient selection are presented and discussed for palliative treatment and metastasectomy. Although data are available in the human and veterinary medical literature to aid decision making, sound clinical judgment remains most important for proper patient selection and care.
authors.affiliation: Sonora Veterinary Surgery and Oncology, Scottsdale, AZ 85267, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods*