• Anal carcinoma in a spaniel

Max, an elderly spaniel, was referred to us at West Midlands Veterinary Referrals with straining to defecate. The referring vet had identified a mass affecting the right side of the anus, and increased thirst and urination. Blood tests had identified increased calcium levels.

The mass was an anal adenocarcinoma, a neoplasia (“cancer”) that often produces a hormone that acts to increase blood calcium levels. The increased calcium levels cause increased water intake and urination. In addition, we identified local spread of the carcinoma to the regional sub-lumbar lymph nodes high in the back of the abdomen at the front of the pelvis under the lumbar spine.

Max was a few kilos over his ideal weight, and while this didn’t make it easier to feel the abdominal lymph nodes, the extra fat around the lymph nodes did make them show up better on X-rays!

The primary tumour was removed from the anus, and the subsequent pathology report confirmed that this was removed entirely. In addition, we opened Max’s abdomen to one side of his penis and removed the large sub-lumbar lymph nodes. These were about 4cm x 6cm and were nestling in the angle where the aorta (the main artery in the body) divides into the left and right iliac arteries. Although this is something of a “scary place to be” surgically,  the enlarged nodes came away very nicely, and this part of the procedure only took about 20 minutes.

Max recovered well from surgery. The anal wound healed up, he was continent, and his thirst and urination rapidly normalised once the source of the abnormal hormone production had been removed.

The prognosis is pretty good, considering we are dealing with a malignant tumour here. A reasonable expectation of survival after this surgery is given by the MST, the “median survival time”, and this is something in the region of 18 months for this tumour type. Recurrence at the anus is unlikely, but recurrence in the sub-lumbar region is likely to eventually occur. This recurrence is likely to precede spread to other distant sites in the body like the lungs.

To delay the recurrence of the tumour, we have followed up the surgery with chemotherapy. We use the services of a specialist medical oncologist, Iain Grant at Chemopet (www.chemopet.co.uk). Iain reviews case notes and laboratory reports and provides us with detailed bespoke advice on the ongoing case management. He also supplies any chemotherapy agent required which is great for all sorts of reasons:

* These are “serious drugs”, and they need careful preparation, storage and handling

* They are often less familiar to veterinary practitioners than more commonly used drugs, and the support of a specialist is reassuring to all

* They are often harder for veterinary practices to source than regular drugs like antibiotics

* They can be expensive and Chemopet supply them at a very reasonable price

In this case Max was put onto a course of a chemotherapeutic drug called cyclophoshamide. This is given in long term “metronomic fashion” which means regular smaller doses rather than individual “big-hit” doses. The cost per day is no more than the price of a pint. Most people are anxious about the use of chemotherapy in their pets which is very understandable given the horror stories that most of us have heard over the years relating to chemotherapy in people. However animals generally take chemotherapy in their stride and complications seem much less common with veterinary chemotherapy. Max certainly seems very happy with his medication!

For convenience Chemopet supply the cyclophosphamide through the referring vet and all the owner has to do is give daily capsules by mouth and check Max’s urine with a dip stick (to monitor for side effects of the cyclophosphamide).

This is a nice example of teamwork between an owner, a referring practice, ourselves as a surgical practice and Chemopet as a specialist oncology service. Periodic blood tests will keep an eye on calcium levels, which may be the first clue that regrowth is occurring with renewed production of the aberrant hormone.

Oh yes, and finally, the owner is working hard to get some weight off Max!!

24th May 201331