Marginal excision of low-grade spindle cell sarcoma of canine extremities: 35 dogs (1996-2006).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate recurrence rate and disease-free interval (DFI) of dogs with low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities treated by marginal excision.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Dogs (n=35) with soft tissue low-grade spindle cell sarcoma.


METHODS
Medical records were reviewed and dogs that had marginal surgical resection of low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma at or distal to elbow and stifle were included.


RESULTS
Histopathologic margins were dirty (12 dogs), clean but close (12), and clean (11). Follow-up after surgery occurred from 210 to 2202 days (minimum, 180 days). Local recurrence and metastatic rates were 10.8% and 0%, respectively. Median DFI and survival time were not reached, because <50% of dogs died of disease-related events. Mean DFI and mean survival time were 697.8 days (95% CI: 559.7-836 days) and 703.5 days (95% CI: 566.6-840.5 days), respectively. There were no significant differences among survival functions stratified by histologic margins.


CONCLUSIONS
Marginal surgical excision without adjuvant treatment of low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities results in a low local recurrence rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-grade spindle cell sarcomas located at or distal to the elbow and stifle joints can be excised without need for wide or radical surgery.
Stefanello
Damiano
D
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Morello
Emanuela
E
Roccabianca
Paola
P
Iussich
Selina
S
Nassuato
Claudia
C
Martano
Marina
M
Squassino
Chiara
C
Avallone
Giancarlo
G
Romussi
Stefano
S
Buracco
Paolo
P
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000662:veterinary; D012086:Reoperation / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome