hemangioquickfacts

Hermangiosarcoma

Quick Facts

TYPES OF HEMANGIOSARCOMA
There are three basics forms of Hemangiosarcoma: dermal (skin), hypodermal (under the skin), and visceral (splenic or cardiac).

While the visceral form is most common, dermal and hypodermal have been recently studied in detail. Hemangiosarcoma is highly metastatic, and most forms of the disease are associated with a poor prognosis. The dermal form can potentially be cured with surgery alone, and many dogs may have a fair to excellent long-term prognosis. Dermal and Hypodermal Hemangiosarcoma account for 14% of all reported Hemangiosarcoma cases.

DERMAL
Dermal Hemangiosarcoma often appears as a dark to purple skin lesion, which may be raised and appear on non-haired areas like the abdomen. 30% of all dogs with dermal Hemangiosarcoma develop metastatic disease.

HYPODERMAL
Hypodermal Hemangiosarcoma can occur anywhere on the body and may appear as a soft mass or be a firm invasive mass with ulceration. 60% of dogs with hypodermal Hemangiosarcoma develop metastatic disease.

VISCERAL
Visceral Hemangiosarcoma accounts for 2% of all reported malignancies and up to 5% of all noncutaneous tumors in dogs. Although these numbers seem small, they have a significant impact on dogs, since this form of cancer kills. The spleen and the right atrium of the heart are the most common sites of occurrence of visceral Hemangiosarcoma. Dogs may have nonspecific signs such as lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss or more specific signs such as difficulty breathing, pallor, or abdominal fluid. Regardless of the site of origin, visceral Hemangiosarcoma is locally invasive and highly metastatic. Up to 25% of dogs with splenic Hemangiosarcoma have cardiac Hemangiosarcoma and up to 63% of dogs with atrial Hemangiosarcoma have metastatic disease. Metastases commonly affect the lower mesentery, lungs, and brain.

43% of dogs with splenic masses have hemangiosarcoma (HSA)

50% of dogs with splenic HSA are in DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation or inability to clot blood) at presentation

Average post-splenectomy survival times reported are 49-90 days

Liver biopsy is essential to differentiate between liver metastasis (spread) and benign hyperplasia (increased tissue growth)

Shepherds and northern breeds are at increased risk for developing HSA

Stage I cutaneous HSA can be cured with aggressive surgical resection

X-rays of the lungs are required to rule out pulmonary metastasis (tumors in the lungs)

Cardiac HSA is the most common cause of pericardial effusion (fluid surrounding the heart) in dogs

HSA in cats is rare but occurs most commonly within the abdomen or subcutaneous tissue (under the skin)

source
http://www.vrcc.com/library/disease_hg_sarcoma.shtml