Marginal Excision of Low-grade Spindle Cell Sarcoma of Canine Extremities: 35 Dogs (1996-2006)

Objective: To evaluate recurrence rate and disease-free interval (DFI) of dogs with low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities treated by marginal excision.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: Dogs (n=35) with soft tissue low-grade spindle cell sarcoma.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed and dogs that had marginal surgical resection of low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma at or distal to elbow and stifle were included.

Results: Histopathologic margins were dirty (12 dogs), clean but close (12), and clean (11). Follow-up after surgery occurred from 210 to 2202 days (minimum, 180 days). Local recurrence and metastatic rates were 10.8% and 0%, respectively. Median DFI and survival time were not reached, because <50% of dogs died of disease-related events. Mean DFI and mean survival time were 697.8 days (95% CI: 559.7-836 days) and 703.5 days (95% CI: 566.6-840.5 days), respectively. There were no significant differences among survival functions stratified by histologic margins.

Conclusion: Marginal surgical excision without adjuvant treatment of low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities results in a low local recurrence rate.

Clinical Relevance: Low-grade spindle cell sarcomas located at or distal to the elbow and stifle joints can be excised without need for wide or radical surgery.