Throat Cancer – Larynx or Trachea
A dog’s throat has many components to it that allow your dog to bark, howl, or even whine and while throat cancers are very uncommon among dogs, they’re not impossible. If tumors or lumps do develop within your dog’s throat, they are usually in either the larynx or trachea (and into the esophagus).
Cancer of the larynx can manifest in numerous ways. The reported laryngeal lesions include:
- Rhabdomyoma (oncocytomas)
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Mast Cell Lesions
- Osteosarcoma
- Extramedullary plasmacytoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Undifferentiated carcinoma
- Fibrosarcoma
- Adenocarcinoma
Each of these is unique in its own way and deserves special consideration in treatments and the prognosis for your dog.
Rhabdomyoma – Laryngeal oncocytomas
Laryngeal oncocytomas are more common in younger breeds. Reports suggest that these are usually solitary, protruding tumors found in the wall of the larynx with clinical upper respiratory obstruction. They are composed of cells with abundant granular cytoplasm (cytoplasm are part of the immune system and have somewhat nonspecific, broad-based activity) due to the presence of a large number of mitochondria (primary energy producers of the cell). So far, no breed predisposition has been reported. They are usually massive but less aggressive. They do not seem to metastasize.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx is formed from reserve cells (undifferentiated epithelial cells at the base of the stratified columnar lining of the bronchial tree) that replaced injured or damaged cells in the epithelial cells (form the epithelial tissues that line both the inner and outer surfaces of the body). This type of cancer is located in one or all of these three areas:
- Supra glottis – the upper part of the larynx above the vocal cords
- Epiglottis- the middle part of the larynx where the vocal cords are
- Sub glottis – the lower part of the larynx between the vocal cords and the trachea.
Mast cell lesions
Mast cell lesions are among the most common tumors in dogs. The most common site for MCTs in dogs is on the skin, however, they can arise anywhere in the body. When it arises in the larynx it is called a mast cell tumor. The average age for this type of tumor is around 9 years old. Breeds like boxers, boston terriers, beagles, bulldogs, and schnauzers are predisposed to this type of dog cancer.
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma of the larynx is extremely rare in dogs. Your vet may either follow radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma, or the larynx may be the site of metastatic osteosarcoma (primary bone cancer).
Extramedullary plasmacytomas
Extramedullary plasmacytomas in dogs mostly develops in the gastrointestinal tract. The larynx is a very rare sight of involvement in any species.
Chondrosarcomas
Chondrosarcomas are malignant tumors that arise in any place where there is cartilage (type of connective tissue). They usually develop from bones like the pelvis, leg bone or arm bone. Occasionally, they develop in the larynx.
Types Of Tracheal Cancers In Dogs
Located just below the larynx, the trachea can also develop cancerous tumors, though also rare in dogs. There are three types of tracheal cancer your dog may be at risk for, lymphoma, chondrosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Tracheal chondrosarcomas
Tracheal chondrosarcoma are malignant, slow-growing, progressive, invasive tumors of the trachea. These tumors have no known cause and are extremely rare in small animals.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which can have its origins in the trachea, or spread to them by a process called metastasis.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea may be ulcerative or exophytic (outward growing tumor) in appearance. It generally spreads to regional lymph nodes, and often invades mediastinal structures (comprises heart, great vessels of the heart, esophagus, trachea, phrenic nerve, cardiac nerve, thoracic nerve, thoracic duct, thymus, cardiac nerve and lymph nodes of the central chest). Second primary squamous cell malignancies are rampant.
Benign Tracheal Polyps
Tracheal polyps (a projecting growth from a mucous surface) and leiomyomas are also quite common. They usually develop from the cartilaginous rings (they help the trachea from collapsing during the absence of air and also protect it) and are composed of cancellous bone (it is the spongy interior layer of the bone that protects the bone marrow) capped by cartilage (type of dense connective tissue). They mostly result due to malformations in osteogenesis (the process of laying down of new bone material by osteoblasts [mononucleate cell that is responsible for bone formation]). In lymphoma and thyroid adenocarcinoma, the disease generally metastasizes to the larynx and the trachea. However, primary neoplasms of the trachea are uncommon in dogs.
Dog Throat Cancer Symptoms
The symptoms of throat cancer in dogs include:
- A change in voice or bark
- Intolerance to exercise or dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
- Respiratory distress
- Drooling (when saliva flows outside the mouth)
- Cyanosis (blue color in the mucous membranes)
- Harsh or noisy breathing.
Patients with tracheal tumors may also exhibit a nagging cough.
Veterinary Diagnostic Techniques
The diagnostic techniques for canine tracheal cancer include complete blood cell count (CBC), biochemical profile, urinalysis, chest and neck X-rays, aspirate cytology, endoscopy, surgical biopsy, rigid bronchoscope (it is a technique of visualizing the inside of the airways for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes), plain radiographs or a tracheogram.
The laryngeal tumors are usually examined under visualization, because small samples may not give the correct result.
Tracheal tumors pose a huge diagnostic challenge. They can be only biopsied with the help of a fiberoptic instrument or a rigid bronchoscope. Sometimes a surgical open biopsy may also be performed. Plain radiographs may also reveal a mass narrowing the lumen (it is the inside of a tubular structure like an artery or intestine). Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging may also help in the diagnostic process.
Throat Cancer Treatment For Canines
If the laryngeal tumors are benign like rhabdomyomas and cysts, they can be removed successfully. But the preservation of laryngeal function is very important in this case. Irradiation is also resorted to depending upon the radio responsiveness of invasive tumors. Chemotherapy with or without surgery may also be helpful.
For tracheal tumors, vets generally resort to surgical extirpation if they are benign osteochondral tumors. Full thickness removal with end-to-end anastomosis (network of streams that both branch out and reconnect like the blood vessels) can be performed up to 3 or 4 rings. On an experimental basis, 50% of tracheal length has been removed with successful closure.
Prognosis For Throat Cancer In Dogs
If the lesions are benign they have a good outcome. Most dogs with resectable oncocytomas, live more than 1 year. But information on the prognosis of malignant tumors is very low.
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Reference:
Withrow and MacEwen’s Small Animal Clinical Oncology– Stephen J. Withrow, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), Director, Animal Cancer Center Stuart Chair In Oncology, University Distinguished Professor, Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado; David M. Vail, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), Professor of Oncology, Director of Clinical Research, School of Veterinary Medicine University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin
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