Cornell University saves canine with a rare tumor

Cherokee with her owner, Dr Cynthia Hopf, assistant clinical professor at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals (Photo courtesy of Cynthia Hopf and Cornell University).

Cynthia Hopf, DVM, assistant clinical professor at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), noticed Cherokee, her 9-year-old bloodhound mix, had a drooping in her eyelid and decreased pupil size. She suspected she could be suffering from Horner’s system as it could present with neurologic issues. After seeing this at work with her wildlife patients, she knew something was wrong with her pet because Cherokee had not experienced any kind of trauma and was only 9-years-old.

Hopf immediately contacted Courtney Korff, DVM, and Emma Davies, BVSc, MSc, DipECVN, at CVM's Neurology and Neurosurgery Services and was brought in for imaging. Korff and Davies discovered a mass in Cherokee's chest that would be diagnosed as neuroendocrine carcinoma.¹

The tumor was small and would have likely been undetected if it was not pressed against a nerve that coursed through Cherokee's chest and contributed to normal eye function. This location and nature of the tumor are highly unusual.

Cherokee was scheduled for surgery with another colleague, Nicole Buote, DVM, DACVS(SA). Buote used tools and scopes that were threaded through 3 small incisions in Cherokee’s chest to remove the tumor, avoiding cutting open the chest and ribs for an easier recovery.¹ Hopf brought her dog home after the surgery, and Cherokee was up and moving the next day.

The tumor was then sent for assessment by the Pathology Service at CVM and declared a neuroendocrine carcinoma. Cherokee was sent to the oncology services for case management and prescribed Palladia. Now, her most recent scans showed no evidence of diseases anywhere. However, to be safe, Cherokee will stay on Palladia.

Reference

Dog with rare tumor gets a happy ending. News release. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. October 20, 2022. Accessed October 25, 2022. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/news/20221020/dog-rare-tumor-gets-happy-ending