title: Survival times in dogs with right atrial hemangiosarcoma treated by means of surgical resection with or without adjuvant chemotherapy: 23 cases (1986-2000).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine survival times in dogs with right atrial hemangiosarcoma treated by means of pericardectomy and tumor resection, with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, and identify complications associated with treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  23 dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were included only if the diagnosis was confirmed histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common initial complaints included acute collapse (8 [35%] dogs), anorexia or inappetence (8 [35%]), and lethargy (8 [35%]). The most common physical examination abnormalities included muffled heart sounds (12 [52%] dogs), tachycardia (7 [30%]), and weak pulses (7 [30%]). Postoperative complications developed in 12 (52%) dogs; however, most complications were minor. Twenty (87%) dogs were discharged from the hospital. Survival time was significantly longer in the 8 dogs that received adjuvant chemotherapy (mean, 164 days; median, 175 days) than in the 15 dogs that did not receive chemotherapy (mean, 46 days; median, 42 days). Dogs that received chemotherapy were significantly younger and had significantly lower WBC counts than did dogs that did not receive chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggested that in dogs with right atrial hemangiosarcoma, surgical resection of the tumor was associated with a low complication rate and complications that did arise typically were minor. In addition, use of adjuvant chemotherapy following resection was associated with significantly longer survival times, compared with resection alone.
authors.affiliation: Section of Small Animal Surgery, Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010, USA.
authors.forename: Chick
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weisse
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.forename: Michele A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Steffey
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Drobatz
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome