Cutaneous Myxosarcoma in a dog: Case report

Abstract

Myxosarcoma (MXS) is classified as a rare neoplasm, as a large part of Soft Tissue Sarcomas (STM), and most often affects the skin, with an invasive character, with an ill-defined margin, low metastatic potential and slow growth. It affects middle-aged animals to the elderly, without sexual predilection, and due to the low response to chemotherapy protocols, the treatment of choice is surgical removal. The objective was to report the care of an elderly dog with a diagnosis of skin myxosarcoma. The animal was referred for consultation with an increase in volume in the cranial cervical region. On physical examination, the mass presented a soft consistency, adhered to the thoraco-sternal region. The patient underwent cytology and cutaneous neoplasia excision procedure. As a therapeutic protocol, meloxicam 0.1 mg/kg was prescribed every 25 hours for 3 days, metronidazole, 25 mg/kg, every 12 hours for 7 days, dipyrone, 25 mg/kg, every 12 hours and tramadol hydrochloride, 3 mg/kg, every 12 hours for 5 days. The case presented two recurrences in a period of 61 days after the first surgery, with the surgical procedure performed three times. In the second procedure, the tutor agreed to send material for histopathology, confirming myxosarcoma diagnosis. In the third surgical procedure for excision of recurrent cutaneous neoplastic material, the animal died. This work demonstrates the importance of early diagnosis, by means of histopathological examination and thus an early therapeutic approach and also the low incidence of cases of this neoplasm.