![]() Malignant tumors vary in their seriousness. ![]() Of the 10 skin masses found on a given pet, 9 might be benign lipomas, but the 10 th might a malignant tumor. ![]() Also, just because a pet has had previous lumps identified as benign by FNA does not mean that new lump is also benign. Even lumps under the skin that feel soft and fatty may actually be found to be “malignant,” or dangerous to the life of the pet. If a mass cannot be identified as benign by examination alone, it should be tested by FNA. fatty tumors), some eyelid tumors and several others. Examples of benign masses include warts, skin tags, cysts, “lipomas”(a.k.a. Usually these masses are “benign,” or not harmful to the pet. The majority of skin masses that veterinarians see on a daily basis are readily identifiable through examination and FNA. A veterinary “oncologist,” or cancer specialist, may be consulted at this point for exploration of all the available options. Once the tumor is identified, additional surgery or cancer therapy may be recommended such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc. An incisional biopsy is generally done when the tumor itself is very large and/or invasive and cannot be easily or safely removed in its entirety. On the other hand, an “incisional biopsy” involves cutting out one or more small pieces of the tumor for histopathology. Many times an excisional biopsy is not only diagnostic but also curative if the pathologist reports there are “wide margins,” or that healthy, non-cancerous tissue surrounds all edges of the removed tumor. Many skin tumors are surgically tested by “excisional biopsy” where the entire mass is cut off the pet and submitted for histopathology. There are two general categories of surgical biopsy: incisional and excisional. “Histopathology” is where a pathologist examines slices of the tumor under the microscope to determine with more accuracy what kind of tumor is present and how serious it is. If the mass cannot be identified by FNA, your veterinarian may recommend surgical biopsy for definitive diagnosis by histopathology. However, sometimes the FNA test is inconclusive. You may get good news that the mass is not serious and no further action is needed. ![]() The good thing about an FNA is it can be done on an awake pet because it does not cause significant discomfort therefore, results are available quickly.Ĭertain tumors are easily identified by the FNA test. This test involves sampling the mass with a needle and looking at the cells under the microscope. Therefore, it is best to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to have any new lump or bump checked out, especially if it is growing quickly, bleeding or otherwise bothering your pet.Īfter examining your pet and recording important qualities about the mass (which may include its location, size, shape, texture, depth, etc.) your veterinarian may recommend a screening skin test called a “fine needle aspirate (FNA) and cytology”. However, the small proportion of skin masses that do spread to internal organs must be identified and removed quickly. Fortunately, the majority of tumors you can feel on or just under the skin do not correlate to significant internal disease. What can I do about it?Īnswer: Early detection of cancer is essential, so it’s a good thing you check your pet regularly and report any changes to your veterinarian. It wasn’t there a few weeks ago when I bathed him last. Question: I just found a lump on my dog’s side. ![]()
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