Radiotherapy of sialoceles in dogs - 7 cases (1997-1998)

Between May 1997 and August 1998, 7 dogs with salivary mucoceles were prese nted to the Section of Radio-Oncology, Clinic of Veterinary Surgery, Univer sity of Zurich and irradiated for their disease. In all cases multiple prev ious surgical treatments failed to resolve the problem. Megavoltage radiati on was used and a total dose of 12 Gy was applied in three fractions. In al l patients a significant improvement in sialocele size was seen. The radiat ion was tolerated very well and no side effects were seen. However, three o f the dogs later had a reccurence of the disease. Surgical resection of aff ected glands remains to be the treatment of choice for a sialocele. Neverth eless, radiation therapy can be used as an alternative, in complicated case s. The treatment protocol needs to be further developed and optimized.