Marginal excision of 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 (n=35) with soft tissue low-grade spindle cell sarcoma. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed and dogs that had marginal surgical resection of low-grade 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). Follow-up 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 <50% 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.