Canine Skeletal Chondrosarcoma: A Clinicopathologic Study of 35 Cases

Abstract

SUMMARY The clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of 35 canine skeletal chondrosarcomas ( cs ) were reviewed. The median age of affected dogs was 6 years. Sex predilection was not detected. The percentage of breed types in the tumor population was Boxer, 24, and German Shepherd Dog and mixed breeds, 18.5 each. Thirty-one of the cs developed in dogs weighing more than 18.1 kg. (40 lb.). The major sites of origin were rib (10 dogs), nasal cavity (9 dogs), and pelvis (5 dogs). Three of the 5 cs of the pelvis and 4 of 10 cs of the rib were in Boxers, whereas none of the 11 cs of the nasal cavity or frontal sinus affected this breed. The radiographic features of cs were often indistinguishable from those of osteosarcoma ( os ). Ten dogs were treated surgically. Good surgical results were obtained in 5 of 9 dogs with cs of the rib. In the 10th dog, cs of the nasal cavity could not be completely excised. Metastases were detected in 4 of 22 dogs necropsied. Grossly, cs tended to be rather large, lobulated, and bluish white. Histologically, the tumors varied widely; 3 grades of histologic malignancy were recognized. More tumors will have to be studied before the value of grading can be determined.