Cat & Dog - Hepatoid Gland Tumour

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 veterinary 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.

What is this tumour?

This tumour is a disordered and purposeless overgrowth of modified sebaceous (secrete oil/waxy substances) glands known as the hepatoid glands. These glands only occur in dogs. They are found in the skin around the anus, prepuce and dorsal tail and occasionally other areas of skin. The tumour cells resemble liver (hepatic) cells. Most tumours are benign and can be permanently cured by total surgical removal. Many are multiple. Malignant hepatoid gland tumours tend to be locally invasive but very rarely spread to other parts of the body.

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.

Hepatoid gland benign proliferations are under hormonal influence. Cells in these tumours have increased numbers of oestrogen receptors on their surface compared to normal gland cells.

Is this a common tumour?

These are common tumours in male dogs, mainly in middle aged to older animals but may occur in the young. They are rare in castrated dogs and unusual in bitches but can occur in both intact and spayed bitches.

Tumours are frequently multiple and occasionally appear in unexpected places such as the shoulder, neck, face and chin.

How will this cancer affect my animal?

The tumours are noted as lumps, mainly around the anus but sometimes on the tail and prepuce. They vary from 0.5 to 5 centimetres in diameter. Many need surgical removal as they become inflamed and ulcerated. They may be secondarily infected.

How is the tumour diagnosed?

Clinically, this tumour has a fairly typical appearance and site but accurate diagnosis relies upon microscopic examination of tissue. Various degrees of surgery may be needed to get proper tissue samples. These range from needle aspiration, to punch biopsy and full excision of the lump. Cytology is the microscopic examination of cell samples (often useful for rapid or preliminary tests). It is less diagnostic than histopathology, which is the microscopic examination of specially prepared and stained tissue sections. This is done at a specialised laboratory where the slides are examined by a veterinary pathologist. The information from this examination is more detailed and can indicate better how the cancer will behave (the prognosis) and whether the cancer has been fully removed. It also rules out other cancers.

What treatment is available?

Treatment is usually surgical removal of the lump(s) and castration of the dog to prevent further tumour development. Oestrogenic and anti-androgen medication is also widely used for treatment but efficacy is not well documented.

Surgical removal of the tumour and neutering is recommended for unspayed bitches.

Castration is ineffective as treatment for the rare malignant tumours (carcinomas). In highly malignant cases, radiotherapy has been recommended as a palliative (temporary relief).

Can this cancer disappear without treatment?

'Cure' has to be a guarded term in dealing with any cancer.

Cancer very rarely disappears without treatment. Very occasionally, spontaneous loss of blood supply to the cancer can make it die but the dead tissue will still need surgical removal. The body's immune system is not effective in causing this type of tumour to regress. Castration or spaying can cause benign tumours to regress.

How can I nurse my pet?

Preventing your pet from rubbing, 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 similarly needs to be kept clean and your pet should not be allowed to interfere with the site. Any loss of sutures or significant swelling or bleeding should be reported to your veterinary surgeon. You may be asked to check that your pet can pass faeces.

If you require additional advice on post-surgical care, please ask.

How will I know if the cancer is permanently cured?

If the lump is sent for histopathological diagnosis, the diagnosis can be confirmed, also the completeness of excision assessed and other diagnoses ruled out.

Seventy percent of benign tumours (hyperplasias and adenomas) do not recur within a year after surgical excision. Benign forms of hepatoid gland tumours are under hormonal influence so with castration, 95% of non-ulcerated tumours will not recur. Tumours of borderline malignancy (epitheliomas) occasionally recur locally. Full surgical excision and castration is often curative.

Malignant tumours (hepatoid gland carcinomas) can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) but one study found that three quarters of tumours less than 5 cm in diameter and without extensive local infiltration were cured by excision. Larger or invasive tumours caused more problems but only 14% had clinical evidence of metastasis. Progression was slow (months to years)

A few male castrated dogs will still develop this tumour. The adrenal cortex may produce increased sex hormones or the glands may be more sensitive to hormone as tumours have increased oestrogen receptors compared to normal gland. It is difficult to prevent recurrent tumours in these dogs and in spayed bitches.

Your veterinary surgeon may consider investigation of adrenal function in castrated dogs showing other clinical signs consistent with adrenal malfunction. This may include poor liver function.

Are there any risks to my family or other pets?

No, this is not an infectious tumour and it is not transmitted from pet to pet or from pets to people.