Lump With Pus - Tumour?

[kbo]

My 2 year old male has had a lump on his shoulder blade for about 2 weeks.

It is a bit bigger than pea sized, it started as a hardish raised lump with a scab on top and has changed to a slightly larger but more flattish lump with some brown discharge. It is on the surface of the skin and just under if that makes sense.

I was bathing it with salty water (thinking it was a small infection or ingrown hair) and it doesn't seem to worry him if it's touched.

I took him to the vet yesterday. He squeezed the lump (more brown gunk came out) and he checked this sample under the microscope. He said he saw blood, pus and some 'abnormal' cells and recommended removing the lump and having it tested. He said he has concerns it is a tumour. I said I thought tumours were solid and pus would be an indication of an infection? but he said he was worried about these cells he could see 'breaking down' in the sample. He said because of his age he is also worried because in younger dogs, tumours can sometimes be very aggressive.

I've booked him in for the surgery to have the lump removed and crossing fingers for good results.

Until I receive the results, it would be helpful to me if anyone had a similar experience with this type of lump? I would like an indication of what we might be in for...

Edited July 13, 2009 by kbo

[Staffyluv]

Tumours are no more aggressive in younger dogs than they are in older dogs - so don't worry until there is something to worry about (I know it is easier said than done)...

The way a tumour acts will depend on what type of tumour it is and what grade (there are so many cancers and non malignant tumours that it could be if it is a tumour).

My boy has Mast Cell Tumours (MCT) grade 2 (not curable) but as a grade 2 it can act like a grade 1 or a grade 3. Touch wood, it is acting like a grade 1 and although his cancer is systemic, he is not getting any worse because of it. He still has the tumours that could not be removed before chemo but they don't do much these days.

Some tumours will weep and can become ulcerated and infected if left without treatment but then so can a lot of other things.

Grass seeds can imbed themselves and then if not removed become infected and produce just what you have described. The same could happen with a bit of stick being stuck in there or glass, actually any foreign object. My sisters dog had a piece of stick stuck in his neck and it became pussy and had to be removed surgically.

I am sure the vet is onto it and will let you know as soon as they can - stay calm and like I said, no point worrying over something that is not confirmed yet. However most vets that I know are reluctant to use the 'tumour or cancer' words (because they do tend to frighten people) until there is confirmation of such - even our vet used to say that he would aspirate the 'lump' not the tumour...

Best of luck

[Tilly]

Try not to worry too much - the pathology (sp?) results can still come back clear even if the vet suspects otherwise.

When our 7 yr old GSD boy had prostate issues and was rushed into surgery - the specialists all suspected cancer because it was abnormalities but thankfully everything came back clear.

This same dog had a pea size lump on his side as a young boy - I told doctors I didn't want to know if it was bad news. So when I picked him up after surgery and the vet didn't say anything I then went home and cried because I thought it was bad news. It then took me another couple of days to work up the courage to check with the vet ... and he laughed and said "I forget to tell you that everything is fine". I didn't know if I should have kicked the vet or kissed him

Give your boy some extra cuddles from us

[kbo]

Thank you both, it is so helpful to have others give support and keep reminding me to stay calm

I'm trying not to think too far ahead, at this stage I'm just dealing with leaving him there for the surgery (he's never been away from us since the day I brought him home - even the groomer comes to our house!) and trying not to burst into tears whenever I see him, because I know I am upsetting him by acting out of the ordinary.

His operation is tomorrow so I am thankful I don't have too much time to wait and worry.

[kbo]

Just to let you know the pathology results revealed a Cutaneous Histiocytoma (benign lump).

I have included a bit of the report below.

9 stitches later and he is acting as if nothing has happened

(And I am much relieved and grateful for the good result).

HISTOPATHOLOGY REPORT

CLINICAL NOTES

Firm growth, L shoulder.

SUMMARY

CUTANEOUS HISTIOCYTOMA.

COMMENT

Cutaneous histiocytoma is a benign lesion that occurs most commonly in

dogs under four years of age but can occur in dogs of any age.

Preselection sites include the head, neck, ears and distal extremities.

These lesions typically undergo rapid growth and spontaneous regression

that may occur over a number of days, weeks or months. Excision of this

lesion is complete.