title: Survival time of dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma treated by splenectomy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy: 208 cases (2001-2012).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine survival time for dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma treated with splenectomy alone, identify potential prognostic factors, and evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  208 dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were reviewed, long-term follow-up information was obtained, and survival data were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  154 dogs were treated with surgery alone, and 54 were treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Twenty-eight dogs received conventional chemotherapy, 13 received cyclophosphamide-based metronomic chemotherapy, and 13 received both conventional and metronomic chemotherapy. Median survival time of dogs treated with splenectomy alone was 1.6 months. Clinical stage was the only prognostic factor significantly associated with survival time. When the entire follow-up period was considered, there was no significant difference in survival time between dogs treated with surgery alone and dogs treated with surgery and chemotherapy. However, during the first 4 months of follow-up, after adjusting for the effects of clinical stage, survival time was significantly prolonged among dogs receiving any type of chemotherapy (hazard ratio, 0.6) and among dogs receiving both conventional and metronomic chemotherapy (hazard ratio, 0.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical stage was strongly associated with prognosis for dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma. Chemotherapy was effective in prolonging survival time during the early portion of the follow-up period. Combinations of doxorubicin-based conventional protocols and cyclophosphamide-based metronomic protocols appeared to be more effective than either type of chemotherapy alone, but prolongations in survival time resulting from current protocols were modest.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wendelburg
authors.forename: Lori Lyn
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Kristine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Jeremiah A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Felicia H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000662:veterinary; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome