Gastric carcinoma in the dog: study of 11 cases

From October 1984 to May 1987, advanced gastric carcinoma was diagnosed in 11 dogs at the University of Milan. All cases were examined clinically, radiologically and endoscopically, and nine dogs were submitted for autopsy. The tumour mass was excised surgically in one case and treated by photodynamic therapy (haematoporphyrins and laser) in one other case. Fiberoptic examination allowed diagnosis in all the subjects. In seven of eight cases, histological diagnosis was achieved by means of transendoscopic biopsy. There appeared to be a breed predisposition to the tumour as eight of 11 tumours affected Belgian shepherd dogs and all these had neoplasms arising from the lesser curvature with prevailing histological features of mucin secreting tumours.