Assistant professor Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Mast cell tumors (MCT) are the most common malignant tumor of skin in dogs. They have a unique biologic behavior in cats. Mast cell tumors are most commonly on the skin of dogs but can also affect the subcutaneous space and muscle. The biologic behavior of subcutaneous MCT and intramuscular MCT is not yet well-defined. The recommendations for the surgical management of mast cell tumors have evolved over the last decade. The ideal surgical management of MCT includes removing the gross and microscopic disease, while not over-treating (i.e., removing an excessive amount of normal tissue). Furthermore, the sentinel lymph node will be removed in cases that have locoregional metastasis. Importantly, morbidity is minimized and clients are informed about the post-op chemotherapy or radiation therapy recommendations when appropriate. Achieving all of these goals while adhering to all of the surgical oncology principles can be challenging in MCT cases.
