Squamous cell carcinoma in dogs and cats: Literature review

Abstract

The studies in veterinary oncology are fundamental importance for the discovery of the etiology, classification and treatment options, since the number of patients with some cancer increases every decade. Genetic predisposition and exposure to physical and chemical factors favor the tumors development in animals and the skin and the appendages are very common places to develop neoformation, especially in tropical countries, the chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Squamous cell carcinoma is an epithelial neoplasm, malignant, slow growing and not necessarily metastatic, common in cats, cattle, dogs, horses, sheep on unusual and rare in goats and pigs. The precise etiology isn’t yet known and the cause exogenous most commonly accepted is exposure to ultraviolet light, with consequent damage to the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) associated with mutagenicity. The prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) depends on the location and clinical stage at diagnosis. It is considered favorable when the diagnosis is made early and when complete surgical excision is possible, however, when there are injuries that involve bony structures, the prognosis becomes guarded. This literature’s mais objective is to gather information on current squamous cell carcinoma in dogs and cats in terms of clinical anda pathological, in order to facilitate resoning about brest cancer, since it’s inicial approach to their final diagnosis.