Stevie's Lump Has Been Diagnosed

[Katdogs]

Stevie had a big lump appear on her chest a few months ago. About 50c piece sized, looks like a birthmark or mole type thing. About 5mm high off the skin, but that varies. The fur grows through it but is sort-of spaced out.

Went to vet and three of them looked at it, hadn't seen anything like it, they tried a needle in it but no fluid came out. They said it didn't look like an infection or a foreign body, very strange, but just keep an eye on it. It didn't seem to worry Stevie at all. We've noticed it fade but still there with clear edges, sometimes a bit puffier other times flatter, but no really dramatic change.

On Sunday when Stevie was really wet, we noticed it again had puffed more, a bit darker than usual, but thought maybe we noticed it because of her wet fur making it easier to see.

So last night she nibbled at it and licked at it a lot, leaving a bit of blood on the surface. There's a darker spot in the middle that looks like a blood blister. It's not like the 'hot spot' type infection she had all over her face once before, those were clearly blisters and changed into sores overnight. I'm worried now that it's either hurting her, or at least she'll chew at it just because it's there.

The only difference to her life this week was being soaking wet on Sunday, then ear irritation through the week, so she's been on antibiotics for that (got the old ones out of the cupboard, haven't been to the vet yet).

We'll take her to the vet tonight, but please does anyone have any idea what it might be? I just want to know what sort of questions to check through with the vet.

Edited August 30, 2007 by Stevie&Jodie

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

My IG used to get a lot of these sort of things, I had them all removed surgically and tested as to me they looked like skin cancers - brown moles spreading across his skin (IGs have almost no hair on their bellies and that's where these things all came). Did this over 2 years and he hasn't had any more, I bought him a UV coat from a place in QLD as he does love to sunbake. None of them were cancerous (he's also had numerous other weird lumps) but I often wonder if they'd have kept on spreading or turned cancerous.

I've stopped having the other lumps removed due to the traumas of regular surgeries for him (never mind in the old bank balance), he's around 13 now and covered in lumps and bumps, none of which worry the vet or have been tested and found to be fatty lumps.

[Katdogs]

brown moles spreading across his skin

Yep that's what it looks like, except very faded most of the time.

I'm going to ask for a biopsy/sample to be taken, can they do that without anaesthetic?

[cavNrott]

I don't think they can do a biopsy without a GA. A needle aspiration doesn't need anaesthesia but my old dog was anaesthetised for a biopsy.

[stormie]

brown moles spreading across his skin

Yep that's what it looks like, except very faded most of the time.

I'm going to ask for a biopsy/sample to be taken, can they do that without anaesthetic?

IMO you're better off just getting the whole thing taken off rather than a biopsy. He would need to be knocked out or sedated for the biopsy and if it turns out to be something bad you're going to have to take it off anything. Best to just get it whipped out now, I think...

[Katdogs]

Vet took some needle samples and sent them for pathology.

Stevie has a 'histiocytoma', a benign tumour that should just go away of its own accord.

It looks a bit different to the usual, apparently, but the pathology is definitive.

So thank Dog for that!

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_histiocytoma.html

The typical patient is a young adult dog (usually less than 2 years of age) with a round eroded growth somewhere on the front half of its body.

What Might this Growth be?

The good news is that the patient is probably too young to have a serious malignancy; still, one wants to be certain. The ringworm fungus can produce some raised round reactions called “kerions” which can look similar. The chances, are, however, that the growth in question is a “histiocytoma,” a common benign tumor which will eventually go away by itself.

The histiocytoma is a tumor originating from what is called a “Langerhans cell.” This cell lives in the skin and serves as part of the immune system by processing incoming antigens and presenting them to other immunologic cells. The histiocyotoma is especially common in Labrador retrievers, Staffordshire terriers, Boxers, and Dachshunds. It is not related to the malignant process called “histiocytosis.”

Finding Out For Sure:

Most of the time the tumor is small enough for easy removal and the diagnosis comes up on the biopsy report, confirming that the tumor is benign and will not grow back. If the tumor is in a location where removal is not easy (such as the middle of the ear flap or dangerously close to the eye) there are two other options: biopsy of a small piece of growth or cytology exam.

Biopsy may require sedation depending on the location of the growth. Sometimes a local anesthetic is enough. A small piece of tissue is snipped off and sent to the lab for analysis. In a few days we will know for sure exactly what the growth is.

Less costly but also less accurately, cells can be withdrawn from the lesion by a needle or simply collected from the tumor surface by pressing a microscope slide to the tumor surface. This omits the ability to see the architecture of the tissue and just the cells are available for examination. This may be enough for the lab to confirm the identity of the growth in question.

What to do with a Histiocytoma

On the average, a histiocytoma undergoes regression by itself within three months. This process may be itchy or may lead to minor infection. Removal of the histiocytoma is the fastest routine to resolution but, since they do go away on their own, leaving the growth along is reasonable (as long as we know for sure it is a histiocytoma). Topical therapy with a product containing DMSO and a cortisone derivative is helpful in controlling symptoms of irritation.

[monsterpup]

Thanks for the update. I'm so pleased for you! I was watching to see what the results would be, and had my fingers crossed that it would be ok.

[disorder]

Snot had one of these!

It did sound a little different to the one you decribed though, there is a thread here somewhere as I was just as worried as you were when I discovered it!

True to the vets word, a few weeks later it did go away. Although the area where it was is still a little bit hairless and pink. but no lump.

Glad it wasn't serious.

Edited August 30, 2007 by disorder

[Katdogs]

Now there's a name, I can search DOL for previous threads.

The vet brought out her book on skin things but none of the photos looked right, it's soggy-puffy not tight-puffy, and still has hair growing through it, so she said the needle/slide pathology would give some indication otherwise then anesthetic and full biopsy (or just take it off).

Now we know that's not necessary unless it changes or gets much bigger.

[kdf]

One of my greyhounds had one of these on her side right over her ribs. It went away by itself, about 6 or 7 weeks total.

Edited August 30, 2007 by Katie w/greys

[Katdogs]

Update:

Stevie's lump is almost gone. There's just some weird looking hairs and a dry patch of skin, no real lump at all any more!