One of JD's bumps was preliminarily thought to be a lipoma and the other one probably a cyst. JD is another example why you want to biopsy every bump you find, no matter how little and how innocent it might look.
The biopsy results came back this morning.
The bump on his thigh is indeed a lipoma as thought. There were no suspicious findings on that one. The other one, however, is not a cyst after all.
The bump on JD's tarsus is a mast cell tumor.
Tiny, innocent-looking little thing. Not at all the typical lesion you'd expect to see. Yet not so innocent after all. Mast cell tumors can indeed look like anything or look like nothing much at all.
What is a mast cell tumor?
A mast cell tumor (MTC) is cancer of specialized, histamine-releasing immune cells found in connective tissue - mast cells. MTCs account for up to 20% of skin tumors in dogs. If we're lucky, surgery can be all the treatment needed. The biopsy result says that the cells show mild atypia.
JD is perfectly happy and doesn't know he should be worried about something.
The upside is that JD's tumor is very tiny and now we know what is is.
JD is scheduled for surgery on Friday. Then another biopsy and staging of the tumor. Surgery is the treatment of choice for MCT, and often the only treatment needed.
I'm a bit concerned about the location because where it is there isn't much surrounding tissue to remove at all. Will we be able to get clean margins? Ideally, two centimeters of tissue should ideally be removed all around. But there isn't much of all around there. We may or may not have to follow the surgery with radiation therapy. For now, we're going to get it out and see what else needs to be done.
JD's bump isn't the only example of why it is important to aspirate each and every bump.
I was following what I believed was the best thing to do but at times I wondered whether I was being overzealous. But clearly, I was not.
Don't wait, aspirate.
Related articles:
Primer On Mast Cell Tumors In Dogs
Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: What Is that Bump?
What Is Cytology And When You Might Need One For Your Dog?
It's That Time of the Year Again: Annual Wellness Exam and JD's Bumps
Bad Dog: JD's Garbage Gut And Diarrhea
Grocery Bag Is Not An Open Buffet: What Was In JD's Vomit
JD's Leg Injury And Hip Dysplasia
JD's Injury And Bad Hip Update
Further reading:
The Oncologist’s thoughts on mast cell tumors
Diagnosing mast cell tumors
Mast cell tumor treatment: surgery and radiation
All about Mast Cell Tumor Grade
Beyond Mast Cell Tumor Grade: Other Prognostic Factors
Your story can help others, maybe even save a life!
What were the first signs you noticed? How did you dog get diagnosed? What treatment did/didn't work for you? What was your experience with your vet(s)? How did you cope with the challenges?
Email me, I'll be happy to hear from you!