canis - Articles
Mouth: squamous cell carcinoma (gingival, non-tonsillar)
Synonym(s): SCC
Introduction
- 2nd most common malignant oral tumor in dogs.
- Cause: possible involvement of papillomavirus.
- Signs: gingival form usually presents as friable, hemorrhagic mass or erosive plaque.
- Diagnosis: CT scan essential to define tumor margins and staging, biopsy provides definitive diagnosis.
- Treatment: wide local excision by mandibulectomy/maxillectomy. Adjuvant radiotherapy in case of incomplete margins. Palliative radiotherapy or chemotherapy if surgery not possible.
- Prognosis: low metastatic rate means that early treatment can cure.
Presenting signs
- Halitosis.
- Oral hemorrhage.
- Chronic history.
- Dysphagia.
- Hypersalivation.
- Loss of teeth.
Age predisposition
- Middle-aged - elderly; 8-10 years old.
- Papillary SCC reported in dogs less than 9 months old.
Breed/Species predisposition
- Large breeds.
Cost considerations
- Staging with CT scan.
- Initial treatment (surgery, radiotherapy) likely to be expensive.
- Follow-up consultations/restaging Neoplasia: TNM staging.
Pathogenesis
Pathophysiology
- Irregular proliferative or ulcerative epithelial lesions at any site in upper or lower dental arcade → destruction of periodontal tissues and loosening teeth → bone invasion (70-77% of cases) → regional lymph node metastases (5-29% of cases) → distant metastases (3-36% of cases).
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.
- Mosca A, Gibson D, Mason S L, Dobson J, Giuliano A (2021) A possible role of coarse fractionated radiotherapy in the management of gingival squamous cell carcinoma in dogs: A retrospective study of 21 cases from two referral centers in the UK. J Vet Med Sci 83(3), 447–455 PubMed.
- van der Steen F, Zandvliet M (2021) Treatment of canine oral papillary squamous cell carcinoma using definitive-intent radiation as a monotherapy—a case series. Vet Comp Oncol 19(10), 152-159 PubMed.
- Simčič P, Lowe R, Granziera V, Pierini A, Torrigiani F, Lubas G (2020) Electrochemotherapy in treatment of canine oral non-tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma. A case series report. Vet Comp Oncol 18(3) , 428-432 PubMed.
- Grimes J A, Mestrinho L A, Berg J, Cass S, Oblak M L et al (2019) Histologic evaluation of mandibular and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes during staging of oral malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma in dogs. JAVMA 254(8), 938-943 PubMed.
- Riggs J, Adams V J, Hermer J V, Dobson J M, Murphy S, Ladlow J F (2018) Outcomes following surgical excision or surgical excision combined with adjunctive, hypofractionated radiotherapy in dogs with oral squamous cell carcinoma or fibrosarcoma. JAVMA 253 (1), 73-83 PubMed.
- Thaiwong T, Sledge D G, Collins-Webb A, Kiupel M (2018) Immunohistochemical Characterization of Canine Oral Papillary Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Vet Pathol 55(2), 224-232 PubMed.
- Mestrinho L A, Faísca P, Peleteiro M C, Niza M M R E (2017) PCNA and grade in 13 canine oral squamous cell carcinomas: association with prognosis. Vet Comp Oncol 15(1), 18-24 PubMed.
- Fulton A J, Nemec A, Murphy B G, Kass P H, Verstraete F M (2013) Risk factors associated with survival in dogs with nontonsillar oral squamous cell carcinoma 31 cases (1990–2010). JAVMA 243 (5) PubMed.
- De Vos J P, Burm A G D, Focker A P, Boschloo H, Karsijns M, Van Der Waal I (2005) Piroxicam and carboplatin as a combination treatment of canine oral non-tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma: a pilot study and a literature review of a canine model of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Vet Comp Oncol 3(1),16-24 PubMed.
- Bregazzi V S et al (2001) Response of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma to palliative radiation therapy. Vet Rad Ultra 42 (1), 77-79 PubMed.
- Schmidt B R, Glickman N W, DeNichola D B et al (2001) Evaluation of prioxicam for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma in dogs. JAVMA 218 (11), 1783-1786 PubMed.
- Frew D G & Dobson J M (1992) Radiological assessment of 50 cases of incisive or maxillary neoplasia in the dog. JSAP 33 (1), 11-18 VetMedResource.
- White R A S (1991) Mandibulectomy and maxillectomy in the dog: long term survival in 100 cases. JSAP 32 (2), 69-74 VetMedResource.
- Dobson J M & White R A S (1990) Oral tumours in dogs and cats. In Practice 12 (4), 135-146 VetMedResource.
- White R A S, Gorman N T, Watkins S B & Brearley M J (1985) The surgical management of bone-involved oral tumours in the dog. JSAP 26 (12), 693-708 VetMedResource.
Other sources of information
- Withrow S J & MacEwen E G (2020) Small Animal Clinical Oncology. 6th edition. Philadelphia: W B Saunders. ISBN 978-0-323-59496-7 (Up-to-date reference on all aspects of small animal clinical oncology).
- White R A S (1990) In: The Manual of Small Animal Dentistry, pp 101-112. Cheltenham: BSAVA. (Affordable source, very readable.)