Liver Cancer in Dog?
Oυr mix bred dog ѕhοwеd tο hаνе a tumor οn thе liver whісh wаѕ detected wіth аn ultrasound. A biopsy wаѕ performed аnd thе vets claim іt wаѕ a hepetoma (spelling ?) (growth) whісh needed tο bе indifferent ѕіnсе іt wουld eventually сυt οff thе blood supply tο thе liver. Thе biopsy results ѕhοwеd nο cancer, bυt whеn thе tumor wаѕ indifferent another biopsy wаѕ performed…іѕ thіѕ standard? Plus thе post surgical results ѕаіd carcinoma οn thе exit sheet (before thе second biopsy results wеrе іn). Thе vets won’t tеll υѕ anything until next week…..bесаυѕе οf thе holidays even whіlе thе results аrе sitting іn thе vet’s personnel….аnу thουghtѕ, іѕ thіѕ biopsy јυѕt thе confirm thе results οf thе initially? Whу ѕο many biopsies? Aren’t thеѕе tests irrefutable w/o having tο stab thе dog twice? Thanks
i would say do what they suggest especially when it comes to the biopsy. i had a cat that they suggested that i get the ultra sound done and the biopsy but didn’t say it was mandatory or that they felt it was sooo vital to do it right then… so i didn’t… my cat died from underlying liver disease. they couldn’t tell this from the blood tests and fecal tests and they had her for 3 days overnight at the animal hospital. so if you have the cash and what not do what you can. i felt dreadful that i didn’t get the ultrasound down and the biospy but she died 3 weeks after them telling me this. so even if i had got those done… there would have been nothing they could have done to save her! I miss her greatly, do what you can!
Cancer is sometimes very hard to diagnose. Imagine receiving the diagnosis then having it not be right. I believe your vet is just being very cautious so as to not prematurely alarm all.
It can be very common. I am a vet tech and see how hard it is sometimes to get a difinitive answer to a cancer diagnosis. It doesn’t sound like you are being paid the run around, just be patient and wait for the 2nd biopsy results. If the 1st biopsy was taken in a spot where there was no cancer then it can come back negative. That’s why they always do a 2nd one in a different spot. Plus this time when they indifferent the tumor they could really see what part they needed to biopsy for the most accurate diagnosis.
GL and Merry Christmas!
Yes, this is standard practice, especially when an ultrasound guided biopsy is done initially. The reason is this: you are only taking a very tiny digit of cells with the U/S biopsy… you could easily “miss” the abnormal cells in this case.
Picture a giant icecream sundae and you only have a teaspoon… you might only get whipped cream on your initially spoonful. But it doesn’t mean the whole thing is whipped cream
When the tumor is indifferent, they send in the whole thing so the pathologists can check several sections of the tumor where it connects to “normal” tissue to establish what it is and how aggressive or malignant it is.
I’m sorry you are vacant through the agony of coming up… it may not be so much your vet’s fault as the lab where they send things to… all wants time off around the holidays to spend with their loved ones… but when you are coming up for vital news about your furry loved one… it is quite hard.
I hope it comes back benign and that the surgery was curative!