Detection of synchronous primary tumors and previously undetected metastases in dogs undergoing CT scans

In veterinary patients, because of the need for anesthesia and costs associated with computed tomography (CT) scans, a single scan is often used for multiple purposes, including diagnosing and staging neoplasia as well as radiation therapy (RT) and radiation treatment planning (RTP). If the attending clinician is focused on the primary tumor and the CT is not subsequently reviewed by a radiologist, it is possible that lesions unrelated to the tumor could be overlooked. Detection of comorbid conditions on CT scans could influence the need for additional testing (such as biopsy or fine-needle aspiration and cytology) and modification of the treatment plan (such as including a metastatic lymph node in the radiation treatment field or recommend aggressive chemotherapy) if distant metastasis is suspected or confirmed.
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Oncology Source Type: research