My dog has a lump. Should we get a needle aspirate before surgery?

Question

My vet dx my 1 yr old lab mix/ Golden retriever with a possible Histiocytoma or Mast Cell Tumor based of physical exam. He is treating it as a Histiocytoma and gave Entederm. I'm supposed to return in a couple weeks for a 4 week follow up and if the lump hasn't shrunk, set up surgery for removal. My question is that, shouldn't he have done needle aspirate and cytology before jumping right to surgery? I dont want to spend 1k on surgery if this thing will go away by itself in a couple months. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 1 year and 4 months old | 72 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there. This is often a question of personal preference, because there are pros and cons to doing a needle aspirate beforehand. If the aspirate shows that the tumor is benign (a histiocytoma, or something similar), then it's true that surgery could be avoided. However, if it shows something malignant, like a mast cell tumor, then Harvey will still need surgery and the mass will still have to be sent for histopathology for grading and other information that can't be obtained from an aspirate. Also, it's important to be aware that around 20-25% of needle aspirates come back with inconclusive results - so in that case, you'll need to proceed to a surgical biopsy or surgical removal regardless. So, it's not as clear cut a decision as you might think. For me, I often recommend going straight to surgery for a small, easy-to-remove mass that appears to be growing (or not shrinking) rather than doing an aspirate first, since the aspirate doesn't usually change our plan. But you can certainly discuss this with your veterinarian - I'm sure he would be happy to aspirate the mass before going ahead with surgery, if this is what you prefer.

My dog has a lump. Should we get a needle aspirate before surgery?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

My pet has a skin issue. Is it mites or ringworm? What's the treatment?

My guinea pig has a growing lump on its neck. Can it heal itself?

My degu has trouble breathing, coughing, and nose discharge. Help?

My pet has a lump on their neck. What is it and what should I do?

My mouse has a growing lump. What can I do if I can't afford a vet?

Share