Mass on back leg

Re: Mass on back leg

Malcolm Ness — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 20:19:43 GMT

Skin origin plasmacytomas often have a good prognosis following surgical removal.

There are a number of surgical options involving flaps and other techniques of variable complexity but all of which are within the scope of someone with moderate surgical skill plus the kind of ability that would be needed to follow a dress-making pattern.

PM me if you like and we can discuss the specifics in more detail.

Re: Mass on back leg

mariette asselbergs — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 13:44:31 GMT

Michael, Is it just me or do you sound more and more as mr Herriott on this forum....?

Mariette

Re: Mass on back leg

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 21:56:01 GMT

Bob - did a similar lump earlier this year. Undermined as far as I could and managed a primary closure with some tension on skin sutures. Splinted leg for a fortnight until stitches out. Did fine. Not sure would have done as well without the immobilisation.

No expert, but it worked 100% of the time for me

Re: Mass on back leg

Christopher Saul — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 21:44:41 GMT

I would firstly say that I also sympathise; I really hate those sorts of problems and you have my sympathy.

One thing is though; even if an open wound and second-intention healing really is an option ( and to be honest, I wouldn't know because I'm no surgeon) then I would think there is all the more reason to do some sort of biopsy (punch?) and staging first .... There's no point in putting the dog through such a surgery if it is a malignancy and will only reoccur shorty after removal, of if it has already metastasised

Hope this helps a little,

Chris

Re: Mass on back leg

Stephen Courtney — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 19:16:29 GMT

Where on the leg is this mass? If at all possible perhaps a flap could be created to close?

If specialist referral is not an option, perhaps there is a Cert holder or just someone who is (justifiably) confident, who could take a look?

Re: Mass on back leg

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 17:36:57 GMT

My sympathy Horrible problem

Wynne

Re: Mass on back leg

Bob Russell — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:47:38 GMT

Overlying skin is normal looking but is pretty adherent to the mass. I have doubts that it can be separated from the mass.

I really hate these cases!

Re: Mass on back leg

James Laidlaw — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:39:36 GMT

Is the skin over the mass normal? Could you debulk it and send the sample as a biopsy, but salvage the overlying skin to allow closure without tension? I assume, by the sound of things, that finances are likely to limit any surgery as these things never go simply and come out at the minimum estimate!!! Alternatively, if they won't accept removal/referral/amputation, so long as the dog isn't bothered I guess you could monitor and PTS if deteriorates. That's obviously going to be the cheapest option...

Re: Mass on back leg

Clive Ansell — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:39:26 GMT

If it can't be easily removed or primary closure is going to be difficult, ga and biopsy to find out what it is, then discuss options once you know what your dealing with and how it is likely to spread or behave. If it is malignant or very invasive then PTS or amputation may be the only options.

Re: Mass on back leg

Bob Russell — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:52:32 GMT

Radiotherapy is not available locally and I suspect the budget is to restricted. FNA's are clearly unlikely to give a definitive diagnosis but are suggestive of a more 'benign' tumour.

I am not sure how restricted the finances are but I suspect a few hundred maximum. It is very difficult to get a particularly straight answer out of the owners.

Re: Mass on back leg

Andrew Kent — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:33:59 GMT

How restricted are finances? Would they consider pre-operative radiotherapy to try to reduce the size prior to surgery?

Re: Mass on back leg

scatty — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:33:11 GMT

could you take a punch biopsy under local ? Histiocytomas don't normally grow that large do they ? (normally up to 2.5 cm)?