title: Ulnar osteosarcoma in dogs: 30 cases (1992-2008).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the biological behavior of ulnar osteosarcoma and evaluate predictors of survival time in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 dogs with primary ulnar osteosarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were reviewed. Variables recorded and examined to identify predictors of survival time were signalment, tumor location in the ulna, tumor length, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, surgery type, completeness of excision, tumor stage, tumor grade, histologic subtype, development of metastases, and use of chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30 cases were identified from 9 institutions. Eleven dogs were treated with partial ulnar ostectomy and 14 with amputation; in 5 dogs, a resection was not performed. Twenty-two dogs received chemotherapy. Median disease-free interval and survival time were 437 and 463 days, respectively. Negative prognostic factors for survival time determined via univariate analyses were histologic subtype and development of lung metastases. Telangiectatic or telangiectatic-mixed subtype (n = 5) was the only negative prognostic factor identified via multivariate analysis (median survival time, 208 days). Dogs with telangiectatic subtype were 6.99 times as likely to die of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis for ulnar osteosarcoma in this population was no worse and may have been better than the prognosis for dogs with osteosarcoma involving other appendicular sites. Partial ulnar ostectomy was associated with a low complication rate and good to excellent function and did not compromise survival time. Telangiectatic or telangiectatic-mixed histologic subtype was a negative prognostic factor for survival time. The efficacy of chemotherapy requires further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Animal Medical Center, New York, NY 10065, USA. r_sivacolundhu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ramesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sivacolundhu
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Runge
authors.forename: Taryn A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Lisa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Corey F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Clifford
authors.forename: Louis-Philippe
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: de Lorimier
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Atwater
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DiBernardi
authors.forename: Kim P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bergman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005552:Forelimb / Q000473:pathology*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors