Marginal excision of canine soft tissue low grade spindle cell sarcoma of canine extremities: 35 dogs (1996-2006)

Objective—To evaluate recurrence rate and disease-free interval (DFI) of dogs with low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities treated by marginal excision. Study Design—Retrospective study. Animals—Dogs (n¼35) with soft tissue low-grade spindle cell sarcoma. Methods—Medical records were reviewed and dogs that had marginal surgical resection of lowgrade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma at or distal to elbow and stifle were included. Results—Histopathologic margins were dirty (12 dogs), clean but close (12), and clean (11). Followup after surgery occurred from 210 to 2202 days (minimum, 180 days). Local recurrence and metastatic rates were 10.8%and 0%, respectively.Median DFI and survival time were not reached, because o50% of dogs died of disease-related events. Mean DFI and mean survival time were 697.8 days (95% CI: 559.7–836 days) and 703.5 days (95% CI: 566.6–840.5 days), respectively. There were no significant differences among survival functions stratified by histologic margins. Conclusion—Marginal surgical excision without adjuvant treatment of low-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma of the extremities results in a low local recurrence rate. Clinical Relevance—Low-grade spindle cell sarcomas located at or distal to the elbow and stifle joints can be excised without need for wide or radical surgery. r Copyright 2008 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons