We know lymphatic cancer as a disease that is systemic as well as progressive and that it has its origin in the organs that belong to the lymphatic system, such as the spleen or of course the lymph nodes.
It is a consequence of the uncontrolled proliferation, as well as malignant, of each one of the cells that belong to the lymphoid system.
Epidemiology and risk factors
Lymphatic cancer or also known as lymphoma, supposes an incidence that is between 5 and 7% of each one of the neoplasms in dogs.
As is found around 80%, tumors that are hematopoietic, These are those that are related to the tissues that are responsible for producing blood cells.
Usually this is a disease that affects adult dogs (What is between 5 and 11 years of age) and we also have the knowledge that there is a predisposition, which is racial.
Although the reason why this disease occurs is not known, leaving aside the genetic factor, if there is a suspicion that there is any risk factor, either those that are environmental, as well as that they are exposed to a virus or even due to causes that are immune-mediated, such as the use of cyclosporine or any another drug that is immunosuppressive.
How is it classified?
Lymphoma cancer can be classified taking into account different criteria, such as where it is found in its anatomy, histology, each of its immunophenotypic characteristics or whether it is a moleculer.
By looking at its location, we may find the following types of lymphoma cancer:
The multicentric: This is the one that occurs most frequently in dogs and occurs as lymphadenomegaly, which is generalized as well as bilateral.
A small percentage may also have signals that are not specific and that are related, such as fever, listlessness, or anorexia. This is something that may depend on the organs that have been affected, being very common that there is the presence of splenomegaly, mediastinal, liver or bone marrow disease and that is found, between 10% and 20% of dogs that they may have hypercalcemia, which is a fairly common paraneoplastic syndrome.
The mediastinal: The characteristic of this is that it is a lymphadenomegaly, which comes from the mediastinal nodules, which cause a compression that comes to mean the presence of cough, intolerance to physical activity or dyspneaInter alia.
The alimentary or also known, as gastrointestinal: This can occur in the form of a mass that is alone or that is diffuse throughout the tract. The main thing is that causes symptoms that are gastrointestinal, where they can be found including the spleen and also the liver.
The extranodal: this has its presence at affect a specific organ, as is the skin, the kidneys, the eyes or also the nervous system.
How is the diagnosis and treatment?
Diagnosis is usually made through a few techniques that are immunohistochemical, which are samples that are obtained through a biopsy, however it is very important that each of the complementary tests be carried out, so that the expansion of the lymphatic cancer can be correctly assessed
The treatment that is used for Multicentric Lymphatic Cancer in Dogs, is chemotherapy.
It is important that the veterinarian has to speak with the owner of each of the possibilities of remission, as well as survival rates, prices, duration and possible side effects, which causes this treatment.
The approximate thing is that 90% of the dogs that are sick may find something better.