CHONDROSARCOMA - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 97 DOGS (1987-1990)

The case histories of 97 dogs with chondrosarcoma (CSA) were reviewed. The mean age was 8.7 years. Medium- to large-breed dogs (mean weight 28 kg) were most commonly affected. Chondrosarcomas were diagnosed in the following sites: nasal cavity/paranasal sinuses, ribs, appendicula r skeleton, extraskeletal, facial bones, axial skeleton, mammary gland s, and digits. Sixty-one percent of the chondrosarcomas involved flat bones. Sixty-three dogs were available for follow-up. Eighteen dogs (2 9%) were alive a median of 365 days at the time of follow-up. Twenty-f our (38%) dogs died or were euthanized for reasons associated with the primary tumor, and 13 (20.5%) dogs died or were euthanized because of metastatic disease. There was a significant difference in survival ti me (p<0.006) between dogs with appendicular CSA treated with amputatio n and those treated by local excision. Median survival times of dogs w ith nasal CSA treated with rhinotomy did not differ significantly from those in which rhinotomy was followed by radiation therapy. Overall, surgical treatment significantly prolongs survival times in dogs with CSA.