Tumor of the Spleen
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
My 12 year-old miniature schnauzer recently had a splenectomy due to a large, rapidly growing tumor. The pathology report calls the tumor a "Splenic Stromal Sarcoma". Can you tell me anything about this type of tumor?
Lili Duda, VMD, Section Editor of the OncoLink Veterinary Oncology Menu, responds:
"Splenic Stromal Sarcoma" is probably referring to a tumor also known as "malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the spleen". In general, any sarcoma of the spleen has the potential to metastasize (spread) to other areas of the body, including the liver and lungs. Therefore, systemic chemotherapy might be indicated for your dog. Consultation with a veterinary oncologist is recommended. The veterinary oncologist might consider obtaining a second opinion on the biopsy specimen to confirm the diagnosis and possibly get a better idea of the prognosis, since this is a relatively uncommon tumor of the spleen. Please see the FAQ on "Fibrohistiocytic Nodules" for more information.
About OncoLink Contact OncoLink Privacy statement Disclaimer Link to OncoLink Home