Sarcomas (Yr4)

Question 1

what is a sarcoma?

Answer 1

malignant cancer that arises from cells of mesenchymal origin (bone, connective tissue, nerves, blood vessels…)

Question 2

what is the cell of origin of an osteosarcoma?

Answer 2

bone

Question 3

what is the cell of origin of a soft tissue sarcoma, fibrosarcoma or myxosarcoma?

Answer 3

connective tissue

Question 4

what is the cell of origin of a haemangiosarcoma?

Answer 4

blood vessels

Question 5

what is the cell of origin of a rhabdomyosarcoma?

Answer 5

striated muscle

Question 6

what is the cell of origin of a lipoma?

Answer 6

fat

Question 7

what is the cell of origin of a chondrosarcoma?

Answer 7

cartilage

Question 8

in general how invasive are sarcomas?

Answer 8

typically quite locally invasive

Question 9

which sarcomas are generally high metastatic risk?

Answer 9

osteosarcomas
haemangiosarcomas
histiocytic sarcoma

Question 10

what is the difference between stage and grade?

Answer 10

grade… histological features and likely behaviour (invasion, vascularity, necrosis…)
stage… the extent of the disease and how far it has spread

Question 11

what is the predilection site fir metastasis of all sarcomas?

Answer 11

lungs

Question 12

what are the ideal margins for surgical excision of soft tissue sarcomas?

Answer 12

3cm lateral and 1 fascial plane

Question 13

will a sarcoma reoccur if you remove it with incomplete/narrow margins?

Answer 13

depends on type and grade but most sarcomas have a high probability of reoccurrence

Question 14

when is metronomic chemotherapy used?

Answer 14

continuous low dose therapy after excision of a sarcoma

Question 15

what is the 3-2-1 rule associated with feline injection site sarcomas?

Answer 15

investigate any masses…
present for longer than 3 months
greater than 2cm in diameter
continues to increase in size 1 months after injection

Question 16

how are feline injection site sarcomas treated?

Answer 16

surgical extraction… 5cm lateral and 2 fascial planes deep

Question 17

what dogs are predisposed to osteosarcomas?

Answer 17

older large breed dogs

Question 18

what are the radiographic changes seen with osteosarcomas?

Answer 18

bone lysis
soft tissue swelling
new bone (sunburst appearance)
periosteal elevation
long zone of transition

Question 19

how are osteosarcomas treated?

Answer 19

amputation, analgesia

Question 20

how invasive and metastatic are haemangiosarcomas?

Answer 20

highly