Tonsillar carcinoma in dogs: Treatment outcome and potential prognostic factors in 123 cases

Abstract

Background: Tonsillar carcinomas are rarely reported in dogs. Information on outcome after treatment is sparse and prognosis is guarded to poor. Hypothesis/Objectives: Assess treatment outcome and potential prognostic factors in a population of dogs with cytological or histopathological diagnosis of tonsillar carcinoma. Animals: A total of 123 client-owned dogs with diagnosis of tonsillar carcinoma confirmed by cytology or histopathology. Methods: Retrospective, multi-institutional study. Medical records of 12 institutions were reviewed from 2012 to 2021. Results: Treatment included surgery, chemotherapy (conventional, tyrosine kinase inhibitors or metronomic chemotherapy), radiotherapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or a combination of these. Surgery was performed in 68 cases, chemotherapy was administered in association with NSAIDs in 64 cases, NSAIDs were used alone in 14 cases and in association with surgery in 21 cases, whereas radiotherapy was used alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy in 20 cases. Overall survival time (OST) was 126 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 88-164). Significantly longer survival (P