Skin Cancer In Dogs | Cutaneous Lymphoma Cytology & Treatments

What is Cutaneous Lymphoma?

Cutaneous lymphoma is a form of skin cancer that originates anywhere in the dermal layers of a canine’s skin and can take the form of reddened lumps that can be itchy and cause discomfort in your pet. The two most common forms of cutaneous lymphoma in dogs are epitheliotropic lymphoma and dermal lymphoma.

Cutaneous Lymphoma Symptoms To Watch For

Cutaneous lymphomas appear as ulcers, nodules, plaques, ulcers, and erythremic or exfoliative dermatitis. In the early phases scaling, alopecia (loss of hair), and pruritus (itching) are seen. As the disease advances the skin becomes more erythematous, thickened, ulcerated, and exudative (relating to the oozing of fluid). There may also be oral involvement that can appear as multicentric erythematous, plaque-like lesions, or nodules on the gums and lips.

How Dogs Get Tested For Skin Cancer

The optimal test for cutaneous lymphoma is what’s called a “punch biopsy.”  Punch biopsies (3-4mm) should be taken from the most representative and infiltrated, but not infected skin lesions. Staging procedures vary and the stage does not hold any prognostic importance.

Treatments Options For Your Dog

There are several different types of treatments for cutaneous lymphoma, all depending upon the extent of the disease. Treatments include things like, surgery, radiation treatments, and medications (oral or topical). Specifically, your veterinarian may suggest some of the following treatments.

• Surgical excision
• Fractionated radiotherapy
• Combination chemotherapy
• Retinoids
• Prednisone
• Doxil
• Mechlorethamine (mustargen)

Solitary lesions may be treated with surgical excision or radiation therapy. Fractionated radiotherapy has been associated with long-term control. Diffuse non-T-cell lymphoma is best treated with combination chemotherapy. Retinoids, (chemical compounds related to Vitamin A) like isotretinoin (Accutane) and etretinate (Tegison) have yielded gratifying results in canine T-cell cutaneous lymphoma.

A combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-L-asparaginase, (30mg/kg given intramuscularly weekly) has proven to be effective on dogs with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. However, remissions are not long-standing. Prednisone may also be useful in controlling pruritus. Studies have indicated that pegylated-liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) has produced remissions. As a basis of experimental studies, dogs were treated with CCNU (50 mg/m2 given orally every 3 weeks).

Mechlorethamine (Mustargen) can be applied on the skin as an aqueous solution or an ointment base. The solution is prepared by mixing 10 mg of mechlorethamine with 50 ml of tap water. For preparing 900 mg of ointment, 90 mg of mechlorethamine is mixed with 10 ml of absolute alcohol and sufficient xipamide (Aquaphor). It is essential to remove hair before applying the ointment. Gloves must be used since mechlorethamine is carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and can cause contact hypersensitivity in humans.

Your Dog’s Prognosis With Cutaneous Lymphoma

Dogs suffering from canine T- cell lymphoma were treated successfully with Isotretinoin for up to 13 months. Dogs treated with Doxil have been found to produce remissions in 40% of cases. Although most of these were short-lived responses, remissions of 1 year or longer have occurred. Dogs treated with CCNU showed complete response and two of those responses were relatively durable (7 and 15 months). Dogs with diffuse T-cell lymphoma under the impact of combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, cytosine, arabinoside, and prednisone (COAP) attained a median remission duration of longer than 250 days and a median survival of longer than 399 days.

Other Types of Lymphoma in dogs:

Alimentary Lymphoma
Mediastinal Lymphoma
Extra Nodal Lymphoma
Multi-Centric Lymphoma

Basic Lymphoma information with staging
Ask the Dr. with Dr. Michael Kent on Lymphoma

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