Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma: 18 cases (1992-2008)

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Oct 1;239(7):966-71. doi: 10.2460/javma.239.7.966.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE-To determine outcome of dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma treated with various multiagent, doxorubicin-based chemotherapeutic protocols and identify factors associated with prognosis. DESIGN-Retrospective case series. ANIMALS-18 dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma. PROCEDURES-Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS-8 dogs had a complete remission (CR), with a median remission duration of 120 days. Dogs with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, or a combination of hypoalbuminemia and hyperbilirubinemia were less likely to achieve a CR. Overall median survival time (MST) was 63 days (range, 2 to 402 days). In a multivariate analysis, response to treatment and serum albumin concentration were associated with MST. Dogs that did not achieve a CR had a significantly shorter MST than did dogs that did achieve a CR (13 vs 283 days, respectively). Dogs with serum albumin concentration < 2.5 g/dL at the time treatment was initiated had a significantly shorter MST than did dogs with serum albumin concentration within reference limits (10 vs 128 days, respectively). There was also a positive correlation between serum albumin concentration and survival time (r = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Results suggested that dogs with primary hepatic lymphoma that underwent chemotherapy had a poor prognosis, with a low response rate. Dogs that responded to treatment had a better prognosis, and dogs with hypoalbuminemia had a poorer prognosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Dog Diseases / therapy*
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Lymphoma / therapy
  • Lymphoma / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies