Thymoma, or cancerous cells around the thymus, is a rare disease in canines. It can be treated, and removal of cancerous tumors is an effective method.
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What is thymoma?
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Thymoma is a tumor of the cells outside the thymus, an organ located near the breastbone. It is in a class of cancers called mediastinal cancer, which is a form of lymphosarcoma, or cancer of the lymph nodes.
Thymoma in dogs
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According to pubmed.gov, thymoma is a rare cancer that can affect any breed of dog. It is most prevalent in German Shepherds, and it generally occurs in older dogs.
Symptoms
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Symptoms of thymoma include dsypnea (trouble breathing) and excessive thirst and urination.
Diagnosis
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In order to determine whether your dog has thymoma, your veterinarian will perform tests that will include a urinalysis, a complete blood count, aspiration of the suspected infected area, an abdominal exam and a chest x-ray, according to Oncolink.org.
Treatment
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According to pubmed.gov, removal of thymoma tumors is an effective cure. In more complicated cases, radiation and chemotherapy treatments may be necessary.
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