Correlation of haemostatic abnormalities with tumour stage and characteristics in dogs with mammary carcinoma

Sixty female dogs with untreated mammary carcinoma, comprising equal number s of dogs in tumour stages I to IV, were evaluated for haemostatic abnormal ities using the following tests: platelet count, prothrombin time, activate d partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, plasma activity of factor V, VIII and X, plasma concentration of fibrinogen, fibrin monomers and fibrino gen degradation products, and plasma antithrombin III activity. Two-thirds of all dogs had one or more haemostatic test abnormality of which the likel ihood and frequency was increased in those with stage III and IV neoplasia, Haemostatic abnormalities were more frequently observed in dogs which had mammary tumours with distant metastases, extended tumour necrosis, inflamma tory carcinomas, tumours fixed to underlying structures, or tumours in whic h there was penetration of the tumour capsule by tumour cells. As in humans with mammary carcinoma, these haemostatic abnormalities might be used as p rognostic indicators, but their clinical importance remains unknown.