In dogs, most soft tissue masses of the oral cavity are neoplasms, and most of these are malignant (i.e., melanoma, squamous cell carcinomas, fibrosarcoma). However, acanthomatous epulides, fibromatous epulides, (classically in Boxers), oral papillomatosis, and eosinophilic granulomas also occur.
The most common signs of tumors of the oral cavity in dogs are halitosis, dysphagia, bleeding, or a growth protruding from the mouth. Papillomatosis and fibromatous periodontal hyperplasia are benign growths that may cause discomfort when eating and occasionally cause bleeding, mild halitosis, or tissue protrusion from the mouth.
An examination of the oral cavity (which may require that the dog is under anesthesia) usually reveals a mass involving the gingiva, although the tonsillar area, hard palate, and tongue can also be affected. Diagnosis require cytologic or histopathologic analysis, although papillomatosis and epulis may be strongly suspected from their gross appearance. The preferred diagnostic approach in a dog with a mass of the oral cavity is to perform an incisional biopsy and to obtain thoracic and skull radiographs of the affected area.
If malignancy is a diagnostic consideration, thoracic radiographs should be obtained to evaluate for metastases (seldom seen but a very poor prognostic sign if present), and maxillary and mandibular radiographs should be obtained to check for bony involvement. Fine-needle aspiration of regional lymph nodes, even if they appear normal, is indicated to detect metastases. Melanomas may be amelonotic and can cytologically resemble fibrosarcomas or carcinomas. Biopsy and subsequent histopathologic analysis may be required for a definitive diagnosis.
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