Canine Hepatic Neoplasia Diagnostics and Treatment

Canine hepatic neoplasia encompasses primary and metastatic tumours arising within the liver parenchyma, with hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma representing the most common malignant subtypes. Clinical presentation is often nonspecific, ranging from lethargy and weight loss to abdominal distension, emphasising the need for high clinical suspicion. Diagnostic pathways integrate abdominal ultrasonography, multi-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound to characterise lesion vascularity and guide tissue sampling. Cytological and histopathological evaluation remain the definitive means of tumour classification and grading. Management strategies hinge upon tumour resectability, with partial hepatectomy offering curative intent in well-selected cases. Tumour size, number of affected lobes and surgical margins directly impact prognosis. For nonresectable or metastatic disease, loco-regional approaches such as transarterial chemoembolization and systemic therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have been developed to control tumour progression and enhance survival. Post-operative surveillance utilises serial biochemical markers and imaging modalities to detect recurrence. Emerging technologies in image-guided interventions, machine learning-driven diagnostic algorithms and novel pharmacotherapeutics are refining personalised care in veterinary oncology. Moreover, advances in canine hepatic neoplasia bear translational significance, informing human liver cancer research and vice versa.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Canine Hepatic Neoplasia Diagnostics and Treatment publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in canine hepatic neoplasia diagnostics and treatment across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Primary malignant tumour arising from hepatocytes.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC): Malignancy originating from bile duct epithelium within the liver.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE): Minimally invasive procedure delivering chemotherapeutic agents via the hepatic artery with vascular embolization to induce tumour ischaemia.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS): Ultrasonographic imaging technique using microbubble contrast agents to evaluate lesion perfusion.

Computed tomography (CT): Cross-sectional X-ray imaging modality, often performed in multiple contrast phases to assess vascular characteristics of hepatic lesions.

Decision tree algorithm: Supervised machine learning method that stratifies cases based on sequential diagnostic criteria to predict outcomes such as tumour histotype.

References

1. Drug‐eluting bead chemoembolization for the treatment of nonresectable hepatic carcinoma in dogs: A prospective clinical trial. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2021).
2. Sorafenib for the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Preliminary Toxicity and Activity Data in Dogs. Cancers (2020).
3. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound features of malignant focal liver masses in dogs. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Size of canine hepatocellular carcinoma as an adverse prognostic factor for surgery. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research (2020).
5. Triple-Phase Multidetector Computed Tomography in Distinguishing Canine Hepatic Lesions. Animals (2020).
6. Risk factors and outcome in dogs with recurrent massive hepatocellular carcinoma: A Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology case–control study. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology (2022).