Comprehensive Guide to Hemangiosarcoma Stages and Care

Hemangiosarcoma is a type of cancer that affects blood vessels, making it a complex and challenging disease to manage.

The disease is often diagnosed in its early stages, but it can progress rapidly if left untreated.

Hemangiosarcoma can occur in any part of the body, but it most commonly affects the spleen, liver, and heart.

The spleen is the most common site for hemangiosarcoma, accounting for about 60% of all cases.

Hemangiosarcoma stages are typically classified into four main categories: localized, regional, distant, and metastatic.

The diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma is often made through a combination of physical examination, imaging studies, and biopsy. A biopsy is usually required to confirm the presence of cancer cells.

The stage of the disease is determined by the size and location of the tumor, as well as the presence of cancer cells in other parts of the body.

For your interest: Canine Bladder Cancer Stages

Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs is a serious condition that requires immediate attention from a veterinarian. It's a type of cancer that affects dogs and can be found in the skin, spleen, and other organs.

Dermal hemangiosarcoma, which affects the skin, can be highly effective to treat if caught early. Careful surgical removal is usually the best course of action.

If the tumor has infiltrated the lower layers of the skin or muscle, chemotherapy is often administered as well. This can include IV treatments of cyclophosphamide.

Visceral hemangiosarcoma, which affects the spleen, has a poor prognosis. Only 10% of dogs survive more than a year with this type of cancer.

The extent and size of the tumors play a significant role in determining the treatment plan. In cases where the cancer is localized to the spleen and has not ruptured, surgical removal along with chemotherapy can give a median survival time of around 4 months.

Complications of this cancer include clotting disorders leading to hemorrhage, intense pain if the cancer spreads to the bone, weakness, and vomiting.

Broaden your view: Hemangiosarcoma Dog Skin Bleeding

Early detection research is crucial in treating canine hemangiosarcoma. Researchers are working to develop new diagnostic tests to catch HSA at an earlier stage.

The Coonrod Lab at Cornell received a grant to develop ways to identify HSA and differentiate it from non-life-threatening conditions. This could make earlier detection possible and help dog owners make informed decisions about treatments.

Screening of "at-risk" breeds at annual wellness checkups could detect HSA in the early stages, allowing surgery on the spleen while the dog is stable. This is a promising approach to early detection.

Researchers at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine are working on a blood test for early detection. They're also trying to identify genetic changes that may drive resistance to therapy.

A clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is examining the safety and efficacy of a chemotherapy drug called Copanlisib. This drug has shown promise in slowing the growth and spread of human cancers.

The Shine On Project at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine is developing a simple and reliable test to predict the risk of dogs developing hemangiosarcoma. They're also exploring ways to intervene in the development of HSA to prevent or delay its onset.

The Morris Animal Foundation is conducting a lifetime study of Golden Retrievers to investigate risk factors for cancer. After 10 years of research, they found that 75% of study dogs' deaths are cancer-related, with almost 70% of those deaths due to hemangiosarcoma.

Before surgery, clinicians need to perform several diagnostics to assess patient risk and stability. Bloodwork is an essential part of the preoperative workup, including a complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel at a minimum.

CBC results may raise suspicion of malignancy if anemia, nucleated red blood cells, abnormal red blood cell morphology, or thrombocytopenia is present. Patients with marked preoperative thrombocytopenia or anemia (hematocrit < 30%) are at increased risk for death.

Assess coagulation status with a prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time, conducted in house if possible. If this test is not available in house, evaluate buccal mucosal bleeding time or clip the toenail to assess clotting.

Half of the patients with hemangiosarcoma will present with a coagulopathy. Chest radiographs should be performed prior to surgery to assess for gross metastatic disease, which is present in 50% of dogs at the time of diagnosis.

Obtaining 3 views of the chest is essential to maximize the chances of detecting a lung nodule if present. Abdominal ultrasonography can be a helpful tool if available, as it is less affected by effusion than radiographs.

Ultrasonography allows the clinician to confirm the presence of splenic tumor(s), assess the degree of effusion, and assess for gross metastasis to other abdominal organs. It can also help evaluate the architecture of the mass, which guides the decision to perform a fine-needle aspiration (FNA).

FNAs are not recommended on cavitated splenic masses. Generally, cytology is low yield and inaccurate for hemangiosarcoma, and obtaining the sample carries a high risk for hemorrhage due to the friable nature of the mass.

Surgery is the first-line treatment for splenic masses, and it's essential to explore the abdomen fully during surgery.

The prognosis for nonruptured and low-grade splenic tumors is better than for ruptured or high-grade tumors.

Surgery alone can provide a temporary relief from symptoms, but it doesn't offer a marked survival benefit for patients with visceral hemangiosarcoma.

The median survival time for dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma treated only with surgery is 19-86 days.

Chemotherapy after surgery is often recommended, and doxorubicin-based protocols are the most common treatment option.

Doxorubicin-based chemotherapy can extend the median survival time to 141-179 days for splenic hemangiosarcoma.

However, the accumulated cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin limits the number of treatments a patient can receive.

Other chemotherapy protocols, such as metronomic chemotherapy, are being investigated to maximize survival times and quality of life following surgery.

Researchers are also exploring new therapeutic options, including a new drug called eBAT and an angiotensin II blocker called losartan.

If the tumor is small and removed completely, dermal hemangiosarcoma is survivable with follow-up chemotherapy.

Follow-up appointments and imaging are crucial to ensure the cancer has not spread or relapsed.

Pain can sometimes be managed with analgesics for visceral hemangiosarcoma, but recovery is not possible.

The severity of visceral hemangiosarcoma is such that pets often succumb to the complications of living with it.

The survival time for cases where the tumor has spread is typically 6-10 months.