Evaluation of factors associated with survival in dogs with untreated nasal carcinomas: 139 cases (1993-2003).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate factors associated with survival in dogs with nasal carcinomas that did not receive treatment or received only palliative treatment.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
139 dogs with histologically confirmed nasal carcinomas.


METHODS
Medical records, computed tomography images, and biopsy specimens of nasal carcinomas were reviewed. Only dogs that were not treated with radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy and that survived > or = 7 days from the date of diagnosis were included. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival time. Factors potentially associated with survival were compared by use of log-rank and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Multivariable survival analysis was performed by use of the Cox proportional hazards regression model.


RESULTS
Overall median survival time was 95 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 73 to 113 days; range, 7 to 1,114 days). In dogs with epistaxis, the hazard of dying was 2.3 times that of dogs that did not have epistaxis. Median survival time of 107 dogs with epistaxis was 88 days (95% CI, 65 to 106 days) and that of 32 dogs without epistaxis was 224 days (95% CI, 54 to 467 days).


CONCLUSIONS
The prognosis of dogs with untreated nasal carcinomas is poor. Treatment strategies to improve outcome should be pursued.
Rassnick
Kenneth M
KM
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Goldkamp
Carrie E
CE
Erb
Hollis N
HN
Scrivani
Peter V
PV
Njaa
Bradley L
BL
Gieger
Tracy L
TL
Turek
Michelle M
MM
McNiel
Elizabeth A
EA
Proulx
David R
DR
Chun
Ruthanne
R
Mauldin
Glenna E
GE
Phillips
Brenda S
BS
Kristal
Orna
O
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D004285:Dogs; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors