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Surgery
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Surgical removal is the standard treatment for mast cell tumors. MCTs usually run deeper than they appear, so removal generally involves a far larger area than the tumor itself. Removing a wide margin of healthy tissue around the edges of the tumor prevents MCT recurrence. Dogs occasionally require a second surgery if the margins were not wide enough with the first one. Surgery usually completely eliminates Grade I and II mast cell tumors.
Radiation Therapy
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Mast cell tumors respond well to radiation therapy in many cases, especially for tumors located in an area where complete surgical removal is not possible. Radiation combined with surgery increases the cure rate for incomplete margin removal, and may decrease recurrence while increasing survival rate. Mast cell tumors that have spread throughout the body, however, respond poorly to radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
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Three anti-cancer drugs treat mast cell tumors: lomustine, vinblastine, and corticosteroids such as prednisone. The success rate of these drugs in curing MCTs varies. Holly Nash, DVM, MS of the Veterinary Services Department at Dr. Fosters &Smith, Inc. mentions a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, toceranib phosphate, designed to present a two-pronged attack on MCTs. The drug kills the cancer cells, and also interferes with the flow of blood to the tumor. In addition to surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, giving dogs a combination of an antihistamine and an antacid provides relief from inflammation caused by MCTs.
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What Are the Treatments for Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs?
All dogs have mast cells that release histamines when stimulated. These histamines cause allergy symptoms such as the hives that develop after a bee sting. Sometimes mast cells become overgrown, resulting in a tumor. Mast cell tumors, or MCTs, develop as benign or malignant; a biopsy determines malignancy and provides a prognosis and roadmap for treatment. Most MCTs are benign, or Grade I, tumors; Grade III tumors are highly malignant, while Grade II tumors may be either.