Stereotactic body radiation therapy as an alternative to adrenalectomy for the treatment of pheochromocytomas in 8 dogs.

The objective of this report is to describe the use and outcome of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for treatment of pheochromocytomas in 8 dogs. Pheochromocytomas are an uncommon but challenging tumour to manage. Adrenalectomy is the standard of care for treatment of pheochromocytomas in both animals and humans; however, unpredictable catecholamine secretion from the tumour and vascular and local invasion of the tumour and thrombi can pose life-threatening perioperative and anaesthetic risks. SBRT has been investigated as an alternative to adrenalectomy in human patients with pheochromocytomas. Eight dogs with clinical signs, an adrenal mass, and cytology and/or urine normetanephrine/creatinine ratios consistent with pheochromocytoma were treated with SBRT in lieu of adrenalectomy. Three dogs presented with acute hemoabdomen. Seven dogs had caval tumour invasion, 3 with extension into the right atrium. Following SBRT, all dogs had complete resolution of clinical signs and reduced urine normetanephrine/creatinine ratio and/or tumour size. No significant anaesthetic complications were encountered. Acute radiation toxicity was limited to grade I gastrointestinal signs in 3 dogs and resolved within 1-2 days of symptomatic therapy. Five of 8 dogs were alive at the time of follow up, with a median follow up time of 25.8 months. SBRT resulted in a favourable outcome and mitigated the life-threatening risks of adrenalectomy in these 8 dogs. SBRT may be a safe and effective alternative to adrenalectomy for pheochromocytomas in dogs with non-resectable tumours, or for owners averse to the risks of surgery.

Use of a tilapia skin xenograft for management of a large bite wound in a dog.

A 13-year-old neutered male miniature dachshund suffered ~30% total skin loss following an attack by another dog. After numerous failed attempts at wound management and closure, the wound was successfully healed by epithelialization using tilapia skin grafts. At each tilapia skin graft placement, the wound bed appeared pink, clean, and healthy with excellent progression of epithelialization at all edges. With use of the tilapia grafts, epithelialization occurred at a rate of 1.76 mm/day. As a result, the wound reached complete closure by epithelialization with no evidence of wound contracture in 102 days. Key clinical message: Tilapia skin grafts were successfully used for management of a large bite wound in a dog and may promote accelerated epithelialization in full thickness skin wounds.

Utilisation d'une xénogreffe de peau de tilapia pour la prise en charge d'une morsure importante chez un chien. Un teckel miniature mâle castré de 13 ans a subi une perte totale de peau d'environ 30 % à la suite d'une attaque par un autre chien. Après de nombreuses tentatives infructueuses de gestion et de fermeture de la plaie, la plaie a été cicatrisée avec succès par épithélialisation à l'aide de greffes de peau de tilapia. À chaque placement de greffe de peau de tilapia, le lit de la plaie apparaissait rose, propre et sain avec une excellente progression de l'épithélialisation sur tous les bords. Avec l'utilisation des greffes de tilapia, l'épithélialisation s'est produite à un taux de 1,76 mm/jour. En conséquence, la plaie a atteint une fermeture complète par épithélialisation sans signe de contracture de la plaie en 102 jours.Message clinique clé :Les greffes de peau de tilapia ont été utilisées avec succès pour la gestion d'une grande plaie de morsure chez un chien et peuvent favoriser une épithélialisation accélérée dans les plaies cutanées de pleine épaisseur.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Radius and ulna fracture repair with the IMEX miniature circular external skeletal fixation system in 37 small and toy breed dogs: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine outcome and prognostic factors after radius and ulna fracture repair with a modified IMEX miniature circular external skeletal fixation (MCESF) in small and toy breed dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Thirty-seven young small and toy breed dogs with 41 radial and ulnar fractures. METHODS: Records of radial and ulnar fractures repaired with a modified IMEX MCESF were reviewed. Constructs included 3-4 complete rings, 2 threaded rods, 4 mm-diameter nuts and 6-8 transfixation wires. MCESF configuration, type of fracture reduction, dynamization of the apparatus, inclusion of a dowel pin, and implantation of allograft were recorded. Outcome measures included complications, limb alignment, time to clinical union, and functional outcomes, scored as excellent, good, fair, or poor. RESULTS: Radiographic union was achieved in 40/41 fractures. Fractures reached bony union within 33-84 days after repair. Time to union was not influenced by the type of fracture reduction (P = .11), use of a dowel pin (P = .099), or implantation of an allograft (P = .45). Fracture dynamization delayed radiographic union (P = .0005). At implant removal, mean frontal (FPA) and mean sagittal plane alignments (SPA) were 7.9° ± 6.5° and 7.5° ± 5.8°, respectively. Limb alignment did not differ between radiographs obtained immediately after surgery and those obtained at time of radiographic union in the frontal (P = .062) or sagittal (P = .14) planes. Ninety-five percent of cases had good-to-excellent outcomes, based on return to function at final re-evaluations. CONCLUSION: This modified IMEX MCESF construct provided an effective alternative to treat young small and toy breed dogs with radius and ulna fractures.

Comparison of tibial plateau angles in dogs with unilateral versus bilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture: 150 cases (2000-2006).

OBJECTIVE: To compare tibial plateau angle (TPA) in dogs with unilateral versus bilateral cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture, to compare right versus left TPA in dogs with bilateral CCL rupture, and to determine whether TPA can be used to predict whether a dog with unilateral CCL rupture would subsequently rupture the contralateral CCL. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 150 dogs with unilateral (n=58) or bilateral (92) CCL rupture. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed and TPA was recorded. Dogs with unilateral CCL rupture that were not known to have ruptured the contralateral ligament were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. RESULTS: Dogs with unilateral CCL rupture were significantly older (median, 7.0 years) than dogs with bilateral CCL rupture (median, 4.5 years). Median TPA for dogs with unilateral CCL rupture (26 degrees) was not significantly different from median TPA for dogs with bilateral rupture (27 degrees in both the right and left limbs), and right and left TPAs were not significantly different in dogs with bilateral CCL rupture. There was no correlation between TPA and the time interval between diagnosis of the initial and subsequent CCL ruptures in dogs with bilateral CCL rupture. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that TPA in the range studied (mostly<35 degrees) was not a useful predictor of contralateral CCL rupture among dogs with unilateral CCL rupture, although age may be a risk factor for development of bilateral CCL rupture. The incidence of bilateral CCL rupture may be higher than previously reported.