title: Evaluation of a two-centimeter lateral surgical margin for excision of grade I and grade II cutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate completeness of excision and clinical outcome in dogs with cutaneous mast cell tumors (MCTs) excised with a lateral margin of 2 cm and a deep margin of 1 fascial plane.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 client-owned dogs with 1 or more cutaneous MCTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Excision of MCTs was performed with a 2-cm lateral margin and a deep margin of 1 fascial plane. Histologic tumor grading was performed; surgical margins were categorized as complete or incomplete. Follow-up information was obtained via repeat examination of the dogs by veterinarians or client-completed questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4 grade I and 19 grade II cutaneous MCTs were evaluated. Overall, 21 (91%) MCTs were completely excised; 2 grade II tumors had foci of mast cells at the 2-cm margin. Two dogs received adjunctive treatments following surgery. Follow-up information was available for all dogs (median follow-up period, 379 days; range, 51 to 538 days); no local recurrence was detected during this time. De novo MCTs were detected in 3 of 16 dogs at 37, 54, and 154 days after surgery. Via Kaplan-Meier analysis, median survival time and disease-free interval were both > 538 days (medians not yet reached). No prognostic variables were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excision with a 2-cm lateral margin and a deep margin of 1 fascial plane may result in satisfactory excision of grades I and II MCTs in dogs, with recurrence rates similar to those reported previously. Use of these margins may minimize complications associated with larger local tumor resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Animal Medical Center, 510 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Fulcher
authors.forename: Lori L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Shelley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Amelia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Amiya K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Patnaik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012515:Mast-Cell Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000662:veterinary; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome