Mast Cell Tumors Part 1: The Diagnostic Investigation

Even though veterinarians frequently diagnose mast cell tumors in dogs, there is a great deal of confusion about what tests are critical to optimal management in dogs with these tumors. This presentation will focus on three main aspects of the diagnostic investigation of a dog with a mast cell tumor. The presentation will start with a discussion of the presurgical evaluation appropriate for a dog with a mast cell tumor. Next, collection of diagnostic tissue samples in the surgery suite will be explored. The final focus of this presentation will be interpretation of the histopathology report and what histologic features impact treatment recommendations.

Attendees will learn:

• The optimal presurgical evaluation of a dog with a cutaneous mast cell tumor.
• Diagnostic tissue samples to collect at the time of tumor excision.
• Histopathology features impacting treatment recommendations.