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Pericardium: neoplasia (heartbase tumor)
Synonym(s): Aortic body tumor, chemodectoma
Introduction
- Cause: non-functional neoplasm (chemodectomas) of chemoreceptor zone of aortic body.
- Very slow growing; may be well circumscribed or may infiltrate around the great vessels (especially aorta).
- Signs: most commonly pericardial effusion, right-sided heart failure.
- Diagnosis: signs, ultrasonography.
- Treatment: drain pericardial effusion, mass resection where possible, pericardiectomy.
- Prognosis: guarded.
Presenting signs
- Exercise intolerance, right-sided heart failure.
Acute presentation
- Collapse (very rare).
Age predisposition
- >7 years old.
- Mortality: older dogs.
Breed/Species predisposition
- Golden Retriever Retriever: Golden.
- Boxer Boxer.
- Other brachycephalic breeds.
Cost considerations
- Usually affordable to most owners, depending on investigation and treatment required.
Special risks
- Pericardial effusion Pericardial disease and congestive heart failure Heart: congestive heart failure increase risk of anesthesia/sedation.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Unknown; ?chronic hypoxia in brachycephalic dogs.
Predisposing factors
General
- Signalment (predisposed breed).
Pathophysiology
- Chemodectomas → slowly developing pericardial effusion → cardiac tamponade → right-sided cardiac failure.
Timecourse
- Very slow growing (over years).
- Survival time with palliative measures often 2 years from onset of clinical signs.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Ehrhart N, Ehrhart E J, Willis J, Sisson D, Constable P, Greenfield C, Manfra-Maretta S, Hintermeister J (2002) Analysis of factors affecting survival in dogs with aortic body tumors. Vet Surg 31 (1), 44-48 PubMed.
- Sidley J A, Atkins C E, Keene B W & DeFrancesco T C (2002) Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy as a treatment for recurrent pericardial effusion in 6 dogs. J Vet Intern Med 16 (5), 541-546 PubMed.
- Vicari E D, Brown D C, Holt D E & Brockman D J (2001) Survival times of and prognostic indicators for dogs with heart base masses 25 cases (1986-1999). JAVMA 219 (4), 485-487 PubMed.
- Jackson J, Richter K, Launer D (1999) Thoracoscopic partial pericardectomy in 13 dogs. J Vet Intern Med 13 (6), 529-533 PubMed.
- Ware W A & Hopper D L (1999) Cardiac tumors in dogs: 1982-1995. J Vet Intern Med 13 (2), 95-103 PubMed.
- Kerstetter K K, Krahwinkel K J Jr, Millis D L & Hahn K (1997) Pericardiectomy in dogs - 22 cases (1978-1994). JAVMA 211 (6), 736-740 PubMed.
- Edwards N J (1996) The diagnostic value of pericardial fluid pH determination. JAAHA 32 (1), 63-67 PubMed.
- Owen T J et al (1996) Chemodectoma in dogs. Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet 18 (3), 253-265 VetMedResource.
- Cobb M A & Brownlie S E (1992) Intrapericardial neoplasia in 14 dogs. JSAP 33 (7), 309-316 VetMedResource.
- Difruscia R et al (1989) Heart base tumor and pericardial effusion in a dog. Can Vet J 30 (2), 150-154 PubMed.
- Sisson D, Thomas W P, Ruehl W W & Zinkl J G (1984) Diagnostic value of pericardial fluid analysis in the dog. JAVMA 184 (1), 51-55 PubMed.
- Richards M A & Mawdesley-Thomas L E (1969) Aortic body tumors in a Boxer dog with a review of the literature. J Path 98 (4), 283-288 PubMed.