Lymphosarcoma in Dogs

Also known as lymphoma, lymphosarcoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It is responsible for almost one third of all cancers diagnosed in dogs. It arises from lymphoid tissue, which is found throughout the body & may involve any organ or tissue. 

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels found throughout the body. These vessels transport lymph, a clear fluid containing protein, water, minerals & white blood cells. The role of the lymphatic system is to;

• Filter out bacteria & debris
• Manage fluid levels in the blood
• House white blood cells (also known as lymphocytes)

Lymphosarcoma typically occurs in middle aged to older dogs.

Symptoms of lymphosarcoma in dogs:

Clinical signs lymphosarcoma vary depending on the organ/tissues involved.

Common symptoms include;

• Enlarged lymph nodes

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss

• Depression

• Lethargy

Other signs depend on the specific location.

Multicentric:

Multicentric lymphoma affects the multiple lymph nodes & organs. Spleen, liver & bone marrow may also be involved.

Symptoms of multicentric lymphoma may include;

• Enlarged lymph nodes

As the disease progresses other symptoms may develop such as;

• Lethargy

• Anorexia

• Fever

• Depression

Mediastinal:

Mediastinal (also known as thymic) lymphsarcoma occurs in the thymus, which is lodoged in the chest (between the lungs) & anterior mediastinal lymph nodes. Mediastinal lymphoma can cause fluid to accumulate around the lungs (pleural effusion).

Symptoms may include;

• Dyspnoea (difficulty breathing)

• Coughing

Alimentary:

Alimentary lymphosarcoma occurs in the stomach, intestines, liver & spleen. It is the most common form of lymphoma.

Symptoms may include.

• Vomiting.

• Diarrhea or constipation.

• Weight loss.

• Loss of appetite.

• Fever.

• Loss of coat condition.

• Palpable abdominal mass may be present or a thickening of the intestine.

Extranodal/miscellaneous:

Extranodal lymphoma or miscellaneous lymphoma occur most commonly in the kidneys, eyes, nasal cavity, CNS, skin or heart.

Diagnosis of lymphosarcoma in dogs:

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination & obtain a medical history from you.

Tests your veterinarian may perform include;

• Complete blood count.   Anemia & circulating lymphoblasts (immature cells normally found in the bone marrow, but may be found in the blood in dogs with lymphosarcoma) may also be found.

• Biochemical profile & urinalysis can reveal the overall health of your dog. These tests may also reveal abnormalities in affected organs such as abnormal kidney function, elevated liver enzymes, hypercalcemia.

• X-ray or ultrasound may reveal abnormalities such as thickening of the intestines, abdominal masses or enlarged organs.

• Fine needle aspiration/cytology or biopsy/histopathology of tissue samples is necessary to confirm the presence of lymphosarcoma.

• Bone marrow aspirate/cytology is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of bone marrow lymphosarcoma & document bone marrow involvement with other forms of lymphosarcoma.

Clinical Staging:

Clinical staging is necessary to determine the extent of tumour involvement.

Stage I: Single lymph node involvement only.

Stage II: Several lymph nodes involved within a regional area.

Stage III: Generalised lymph node involvement.

Stage IV: Involvement of the liver and or spleen.

Stage V: Any of the above with bone/bone marrow involvement or other organs (skin, gastrointestinal, kidneys etc.)

Treatment of lymphosarcoma in dogs:

In a few cases, if the tumour is limited & easy to access, surgical removal may be possible.

The mainstay of treatment for lymposarcoma in dogs is chemotherapy, a combination of drugs will be used. This is generally well tolerated by dogs although they may experience a few side effects such as anorexia or lethargy.

Supportive care such as fluids to correct dehydration.

Prognosis:

Prognosis varies depending on several factors such as  the lodogion & extent of the tumours, response to chemotherapy, stage of the disease.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets. 

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.