Cutaneous neoplasms in dogs: a retrospective study of cases diagnosed at LAPAVET,Costa Rica (2017–2024)
Keywords:
Dog, Hemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumor, melanomacutaneous neoplasmsAbstract
Cutaneous neoplasms represent one of the
most frequent causes of consultation and
submission of samples for histopathological
diagnosis in canines.
This study aimed to identify and describe the
three most common cutaneous neoplasms
diagnosed at the Laboratorio de Patología
Veterinaria (LAPAVET) of the Universidad
de Medicina y Cirugía Veterinaria San Fran‐
cisco de Asís (ESFA), Costa Rica, between
2017 and 2024, and to analyze their rela‐
tionship with age and sex. A retrospective,
observational, and descriptive study was
conducted based on a review of the institu‐
tional database, which included 2997 cases
of canine cutaneous neoplasms with confir‐
med histopathological diagnosis.
The results showed that cutaneous mast cell
tumor was the most frequent neoplasm (20.8
%), followed by vascular endothelial neo‐
plasms (14.4 %) and melanocytic neoplasms
(9.7 %). No significant association was
found between sex and type of neoplasm.
Most cases occurred in middleaged to older
animals (7–12 years). These findings are
consistent with previous studies conducted in
Latin America and provide relevant informa‐
tion for clinical practice and veterinary onco‐
logical followup at the regional level.
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