Diagnosis and ultrasonographic appearance of hepatic metastasis in six cases of canine appendicular osteosarcoma (2005-2013).
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this retrospective study were to identify clinical cases of dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA) in which hepatic metastasis was confirmed, to highlight the use of cytology for its diagnosis and to describe the radiographic and ultrasonographic appearances of the lesion.


METHODS
Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for dogs with appendicular OSA and hepatic metastases between January 2005 and January 2013. Reviews of radiographs, ultrasounds and cytology were performed.


RESULTS
Six dogs with appendicular OSA and hepatic metastases were identified. The ultrasonographic appearance of metastatic lesions varied, including hyperechoic with shadowing, hyperechoic without shadowing, hypoechoic and mixed echogenicity. In two cases, the hepatic metastases were also evident on thoracic radiographs. The mean survival time from diagnosis of appendicular OSA was 188 days (range 69-363 days) and from diagnosis of hepatic metastases was 35 days (range 2-69 days). Death was tumour-related in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic metastasis varies widely in its ultrasonographic appearance. In three of six cases, hepatic metastasis was identified without concurrent pulmonary metastasis; therefore, abdominal ultrasound may be useful at regular intervals for patient evaluation, especially in clinical trials where accurate identification of the disease-free interval is crucial. Once hepatic metastasis is confirmed, survival times appear limited.
SAGE Centers for Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Care, Concord, CA, USA.
L
L
Cesario
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, IL 61802, USA. garrett1@illinois.edu.
L D
LD
Garrett
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, IL 61802, USA.
A M
AM
Barger
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, IL 61802, USA.
R T
RT
O'Brien
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, IL 61802, USA.
T M
TM
Fan
D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000662:veterinary
bone tumours; cancer; dogs; liver; ultrasound