Sonographic and Histopathological Study of Mammary Tumours in Female Dogs

The study was conducted on mammary tumour in ten female dogs which were presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex of the university. The female dogs were of different breeds with age ranging between 5.0 and 16.5 years (median age 10.7). The ultrasonographic images were used to evaluate the shape, size and echogenicity of mammary lesions. In ultrasonogram, benign tumours were homogenous in their internal echogenic pattern i.e. hypoechoic. Ultrasonograms of malignant tumour had many pockets like structure of variable sizes having hyperechoic boundary. Excisional biopsy was taken after the surgery of these cases. Of the clinical 10 cases, 6 were of benign whereas the rest cases were of malignant category. Due to the request of owners of the animals, surgeries were performed and tumours were confirmed by histopathology. There were four cases of adenocarcinoma, two cases each of benign mixed tumours and myoepithelioma and one case each of adenoma and myxoma. Skin sutures were removed after 12 days. Post-operative care was done with antibiotics (ceftriaxone + tazobactum), analgesics (meloxicam), Bcomplex and vitamin C injections for 5 days. The study suggested that ultrasonography alone is sufficient to diagnose benign and malignant mammary tumors.