Transitional Cell

Carcinoma in a Dog
Sarra Borne Lord
VETE 3313: Radiology and Clinical Imaging

Harriet History and Signalment

10 year old

Spayed female

Scottish terrier

History of hematuria, without

bacteruria

Repeated treatment with

antibiotics to no avail

Generally good health otherwise,

good appetite

Current on vaccinations

Physical Exam

Weight: 16 pounds

BCS: 3/5

Rectal temp 101.2 F

Heart Rate: 120 bpm

Respiratory rate: 24 bpm

Normal thoracic auscultation

No discomfort on abdominal
palpation

Normal rectal palpation

Diagnostics Laboratory Findings

CBC

Biochemistry Panel
GLU (glucose)

97

60-125 mg/dL

BUN (blood urea nitrogen)

16

7-27 mg/dL

CREA (creatinine)

0.9

0.4-1.8 mg/dL

PHOS (phosphorus)

4.3

2.1-6.3 mg/dL

ALKP (alkaline phosphatase)

191

10-150 U/L

ALT(alanine aminotransferase)

42

5-107 U/L

Negative
Negative for
for protein,
protein, glucose,
glucose, ketones
ketones and
and bilirubin
bilirubin

K (potassium)

5.1

4.0-5.6 mmol/L

Blood:
Blood: 3+,
3+, WBC/hpf:
WBC/hpf: 0-2,
0-2, RBC/hpf:
RBC/hpf: >100
>100

Na (sodium)

147

141-156 mmol/L

No
No casts,
casts, bacteria,
bacteria, crystals
crystals or
or mucus
mucus on
on sediment
sediment

Cl (chloride)

109

105-115 mmol/L

CHOL (cholesterol)

217

112-328 mg/dL

RBC (red blood cells

6.59

5.50-8.50 M/uL

HCT (hematocrit)

42.5

37-55 %

HGB (hemoglobin)

15.3

12-18 g/dL

WBC (white blood cell)

8.23

5.7-16.3 K/uL

Neutrophils

5.76

3-11K/uL

PLT (platelet)

441

175-500 K/ul

Urinalysis
Urinalysis
SpG:
SpG: 1.017,
1.017, pH:
pH: 8.5
8.5

Diagnostic Imaging Retrograde

Cystography

NEGATIVE CONTRAST CYSTOGRAPHY

Bladder was catheterized, the urine drained, and 60 ml carbon dioxide
is instilled into the bladder until slightly turgid.

Photo courtesy Veterinary Imaging Associates, 2015

Negative contrast cystography showed a potential mass effect in the

trigone area.

Carbon dioxide is removed from bladder in preparation for a positive

contrast cystogram.

This procedure generally safe but can cause air embolization. Carbon
dioxide or nitrous oxide can be used if available and they negate this
risk.

Diagnostic Imaging Retrograde

Cystography

POSITIVE CONTRAST CYSTOGRAPHY

Diluted positive contrast media (Renografin-60 60 ml total diluted

50:50 with sterile water) isinstilled into the bladder.

Photo courtesy Veterinary Imaging Associates, 2015

Mass effect still visible but not clearly defined.

Positive contrast allows visualization of filling defects and can be used

to examine the urethra for defects.

Diagnostic Imaging Retrograde

Cystography

DOUBLE CONTRAST CYSTOGRAPHY

Contrast media removed from the bladder and air re-instilled.

Any remaining positive contrast media that adheres to bladder wall is

usually because of a lesion.

Photo courtesy Veterinary Imaging Associates, 2015

These radiographs are a double contrast study

This helps to define the margins of a mass effect.

Diagnostic Imaging - Ultrasound

)

BLADDER ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Photo courtesy Veterinary Imaging Associates, 2015

Increases visibility of the margins of the mass.

Useful for scanning remainder of abdominal organs for any additional

suspicious areas or metatheses.

Harriets liver, spleen, kidneys, and intestines were normal.

Some of her mesenteric lymph nodes were mildly enlarged.

Diagnostic Imaging - Cystoscopy

Diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma

requires obtaining a sample of the
mass.

An aspirate of the tumor should be

avoided due to the potential of tumor
seeding at the site of the puncture.

Surgical biopsy can be done but is very

invasive.

Cytologic evaluation can be done by

rubbing the tip of a urinary catheter
against the mass to extract cells.

Cystoscopy is a better option but

requires referral.

Photo courtesy the Finnish Veterinary Association, n.d.

Transitional cell carcinoma with white fimbriation (Finnish, n.d.)

Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Cancer of the urinary tract can

affect any of the structures
(bladder, kidneys, ureters, urethra)

The most common cancer of the

dog urinary bladder is transitional
cell carcinoma (TCC)

It is a malignant cancer that arises

from the transitional epithelial
cells that line the bladder.

Scottish terriers have an 18-20%

higher risk of TCC than other
breeds (Knapp, 2013)

Cytology smear transitional cell carcinoma (Scurrell, 2012)

Therapeutic Recommendations

Surgical excision

Radiation therapy.

Can lead to harmful complications

Medical management

Not possible if the cancer is situated in the

neck or trigone area

Piroxicam

Chemotherapy

Mitoxantrone

Vinblastine

Metronomic chemotherapy

Chemotherapy with medical management

References
Caswell, M. (2011, June). Transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in a 14-year-old dog. The
Canadian Veterinary Journal, 52, 673-675. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3095172/
Contrast studies of small animals. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.online-vets.com/contrast_4.html
Glickman, L. T., Raghavan, M., Knapp, D. W., Bonney, P. L., & Dawson, M. H. (2004). Herbicide exposure
and the risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers. Journal of the
American Veterinary Medical Association, 224, 1290-1297.
Knapp, D. W. (2013). Canine bladder cancer. Retrieved from
https://www.vet.purdue.edu/pcop/files/docs/CanineUrinaryBladderCancer.pdf
Scurell, E. (2012). Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in a dog. Retrieved from
http://www.cytopath.co.uk/caseofmonthMarch2012.html
The Finnish Veterinary Association. (n.d.). Kuvat figures. Retrieved from http://www.sell.fi/index.php?id=513
Thrall, D. E. (2013). Textbook of veterinary diagnostic radiology (6th ed.). : Saunders.