Stomach cancer in cats and dogs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The stomach is a muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract that holds food and begins the digestive process by secreting gastric juice. The most common cancers of the stomach are adenocarcinomas but other histological types have been reported.
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[edit] Signs and symptoms
Signs vary but may include vomiting (especially if blood is present), weight loss, anemia, and lack of appetite. Bowel movements may be dark and tarry in nature.
[edit] Diagnosis
In order to determine whether cancer is present in the stomach, the veterinarian will perform special X-rays and/or abdominal ultrasound. Gastroscopy, a test using an instrument called endoscope to examine the stomach, is a useful diagnostic tool that can also take samples of the suspected mass for histopathological analysis to confirm or rule out cancer. The most definitive method of cancer diagnosis is through open surgical biopsy. [1]
[edit] Treatment
Most stomach tumors are malignant with evidence of spread to lymph nodes or liver, making treatment difficult. Except for lymphoma, surgery is the most frequent treatment option for stomach cancers but it is associated with significant risks.
[edit] References
- ^ Withrow SJ, MacEwen EG, eds (2001). Small Animal Clinical Oncology, 3rd ed., W.B. Saunders Company.
