Systematic Review of Brain Tumor Treatment in Dogs

Abstract

Intracranial neoplasia is commonly diagnosed in dogs and can be treated by a variety of methods, but formal comparisons of treatment efficacy are currently unavailable. This review was undertaken to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding outcome after the treatment of intracranial masses in dogs, with the aim of defining optimal recommendations for owners. This review summarizes data from 794 cases in 22 previously published reports and follows PRISMA guidelines for systematic review. A Pubmed search was used to identify suitable articles. These then were analyzed for quality and interstudy variability of inclusion and exclusion criteria and the outcome data extracted for summary in graphs and tables. There was a high degree of heterogeneity among studies with respect to inclusion and exclusion criteria, definition of survival periods, and cases lost to follow‐up making comparisons among modalities troublesome. There is a need for standardized design and reporting of outcomes of treatment for brain tumors in dogs. The available data do not support lomustine as an effective treatment, but also do not show a clear difference in outcome between radiotherapy and surgery for those cases in which the choice is available.

Retrospective epidemiological study of canine epilepsy in Japan using the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force classification 2015 (2003–2013): etiological distribution, risk factors, survival time, and lifespan

“…A few studies have reported SUDEP in veterinary medicine [33, 34], but its mechanisms remain unknown. In humans, patients at highest risk for SUDEP show occurrence of generalized tonic-clonic seizures, poor seizure control, a young age, and multiple AED treatment [35]. Here, the two dogs with suspected SUDEP died at a relatively young age (6.1 and 7.3 years) and had a very high epileptic seizure frequency (≥1 sz/week) with a poor response to at least one AED treatment.…”

“…In contrast, median survival time in neoplastic and inflammatory disease was 13.7 and 54.1 months, respectively. Previously, median survival time in dogs with neoplastic disease that received symptomatic treatment, and inflammatory disease that received immunosuppressive treatment, were reported as approximately 2.2–23.3 months [35] and 77.5 months [36], respectively. Therefore, it is important for survival of dogs with StE to recognize sub-classification by signalment, clinical course, and MRI/CSF findings.…”

Thermal Therapy Approaches for Treatment of Brain Tumors in Animals and Humans

“…19 Similar to human patients, the prognosis for dogs with brain tumors is poor with a median survival of 65 days (4 studies, 138 dogs) with symptomatic therapy only, 312 days (6 studies, 108 dogs) with surgical treatment, and 351 (13 studies, 428 dogs) with radiation therapy. 20 Occasionally, long-term survivors live 2.5 to 5 years with multimodal therapy; although dogs with intra-axial tumors, which are predominantly gliomas, were not typically in this long-lived group. 20,21 …”

“…20 Occasionally, long-term survivors live 2.5 to 5 years with multimodal therapy; although dogs with intra-axial tumors, which are predominantly gliomas, were not typically in this long-lived group. 20,21 …”

“…A systematic literature review found 6 of 22 canine studies reporting histological diagnoses. 20 Presumptive diagnosis and treatment may rather be based on the appearance of the tumor on computed tomography (CT) or MRI images. 17,18,30 …”