Use of Lymphoscintigraphy in the Staging of Canine Oral Neoplasia

Abstract

Oral cancer is the fourth most common type of canine neoplasm. Metastatic potential is highly variable, and failure to accurately identify evidence of metastasis results in detrimental outcomes through inaccurate treatment recommendations and unrealistic prognostication. Lymphatic drainage within the canine head is highly complex with marked individual variability. Clinically evaluated mandibular lymph nodes may not accurately represent full lymphatic staging. The goals of this study are to evaluate lymphoscintigraphy and the effect of different injection techniques on sentinel lymph node identification. The hypotheses are that improved sentinel lymph node identification will be achieved by use of lymphoscintigraphy and that peri-tumoral injection will produce more consistent results. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed on dogs with oral neoplasia; each patient acted as their own control for injection site. Two cases were recruited by study completion. Variable lymphatic drainage was noted and differences relating to imaging time and identified sentinel lymph nodes were appreciated with different injection techniques.