Canine Fibrosarcoma (Schwann Cell Tumor) - Symptoms and Treatments

Canine Fibrosarcoma tumours, also known as Schwann cell tumor, are found in fibrous or connective tissue and most commonly occur in injection sites where the tissue has been traumatized by a needle. There appears to be no other significant cause of this condition and as it may not always be picked up straight away it is never possible to see how far it has spread within the local tissues before one calls expert help. It is less likely to spread throughout the body as more aggressive tumors tend to do, but it is malignant nevertheless and needs treatment as soon as it has been noticed.

Sometimes if such a tumor presents itself right on the outside of the skin then it is more likely to leave no residual tracks, but a veterinary surgeon will always test the margins of the specimen taken at surgery to make sure that no cancer cells exist right at the margin. If the cells are found at the margin then a wider excision, sometimes up to six inches, may be necessary to be as sure as possible that no metastases are left behind.

Occasionally a tumor will present in an extremity such as a toe, in which case the sensible option is to amputate and leave a good margin for error so that if cells have started to migrate they're less likely to affect the limb.

In some cases radiotherapy and chemotherapy are possible for a dog that has a fibrosarcoma, particularly if he has surgery and the veterinary surgeon wants to make sure that any stray cells are caught with this extra course of treatment.

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