Dog - Cutaneous Histiocytoma

These notes are provided to help you understand the diagnosis or possible diagnosis of cancer in your pet. For general information on cancer in pets ask for our handout What is cancer. If not already performed your veternary surgeon may suggest certain tests to help confirm or eliminate the diagnosis, and to help assess treatment options and likely outcomes. Because individual situations and responses vary, and because cancers often behave unpredictably, science can only give us a guide. However information and understanding of tumours in animals is improving all the time.

We understand that this can be a very worrying time and we apologise for the need to use some technical language. If you do not understand anything please do not hesitate to ask.

Histiocyte biology

Langerhans cells were first recognised under the microscope in 1868 by a medical student, Paul Langerhans. These cells are members of the histiocyte group, which are part of the body's immune surveillance system. They take up and process foreign antigens (proteins), such as pollens and viral, bacterial and fungal microorganisms. They then migrate to the local lymph nodes (glands). Here they present the antigens to other immune system cells (T lymphocytes) to stimulate them into a variety of activities to protect the body. Langerhans cells also help prevent damage to the skin by UVB radiation and therefore are protective against other types of skin cancer.

What is this tumour?

This is a common benign tumour of Langerhans cells. 99% are permanently cured by removing them surgically. The tumours have an early period of rapid growth over 1-4 weeks and often ulcerate and become secondarily infected. Later they may regress.

What do we know about the cause?

The reason why a particular pet may develop this, or any cancer, is not straightforward. Cancer is often seemingly the culmination of a series of circumstances which come together for the unfortunate individual.

Most dogs that develop these tumours are young and spontaneous self-cure is common with time. This suggests that they are hyperplasias (overgrowth with regression when the stimulus for proliferation of the cells is removed) rather than true cancers (where cell proliferation is out of control and does not regress). No infectious agent (such as a virus) has been isolated but a history of previous injury that could have allowed entry of such an agent is not unusual. Insects such as ticks could transmit these agents by biting, carrying the stimulus for histiocytoma from dog to dog.

Is this a common tumour?

This is a common tumour. Most dogs affected are less than six years of age, occasionally as young as eight weeks. The tumour can occur in any breed but some breeds appear to be more susceptible to the tumour. These include Boxers and Bull terriers.

How will this cancer affect my dog?

The most obvious effect of this tumour is the lump. Many will regress spontaneously over a few months, these tumours are usually removed because ulceration, infection and bleeding are significant problems.

Occasionally the local lymph nodes may swell. This may be because the migrating histiocytes have proliferated (grown) there or because there is a reaction to secondary infection. It is unusual for more than one tumour to be present on the same dog or for the same tumour to occur later at another site but both these situations have been found in otherwise normal young dogs. Very, very occasionally, in older dogs or those with inadequate immune systems, histiocytomas become multiple and progress to malignancy.

How is this cancer diagnosed?

Clinically, this tumour has a fairly typical button-like appearance but accurate diagnosis relies upon microscopic examination of tissue.

Various degrees of surgical sampling may be needed such as needle aspiration, punch biopsy and full excision. Cytology is the microscopic examination of aspirated cell samples. This is used for rapid or preliminary tests. More accurate diagnosis, prediction of behaviour (prognosis) and a microscopic assessment of whether the tumour has been fully removed rely on microscopic examination of tissue (histopathology). This is done at a specialised laboratory by a veterinary pathologist. The piece of tissue may be a small part of the mass (biopsy) or the whole lump. The whole lump is needed to check that the cancer has been fully removed. Histopathology also rules out other more serious cancers. It is important that histopathology is performed by an experienced veterinary pathologist as the tumours are usually wrongly diagnosed as malignant by human pathologists.

What treatment is available?

Treatment is surgical removal of the lump to confirm the diagnosis.

Can this cancer disappear without treatment?

Yes. This is one of the rare types of tumour which the body's own immune system can eliminate. However, ulceration, itching, secondary infection and bleeding are often problems so surgery may be needed.

How can I nurse my dog?

Preventing your dog from scratching, licking or biting the tumour will reduce itching, inflammation, ulceration, infection and bleeding. Any ulcerated area needs to be kept clean.

After surgery, the operation site needs to be kept clean and your pet should be prevented from interfering with the site by rubbing, licking, biting or scratching. Any loss of sutures or significant swelling or bleeding should be reported to us. If you require additional advice on post-surgical care, please ask.

Are there any risks to my family or other pets?

Although this may be potentially a transmissible tumour between dogs, there are no risks to people or other pets. There are no records of tumours spreading by close contact between animals and the tumours do not occur in clusters in a household or neighbourhood.

Langerhans cells have been recognised in most animal species including cats, birds, horses and man but tumours are only recorded in dogs, goats and man. The tumours in different species are not related nor are they transmitted between these species.