Canine Mast Cell Tumor: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment

Mast cell tumors are the most common cutaneous tumor in the dog, exhibiting a wide spectrum of appearances and biological behavior. Though the nature and extent of treatment are dependent on several factors – including stage of the disease and tumor characteristics such as size and location – surgery, traditional chemotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy, radiation, electrochemotherapy, and intratumoral injection represent available treatment options, and will be reviewed. Visceral forms of the disease, both primary and metastatic, will also be discussed. Prognosis in small animal patients with mast cell tumor is highly variable, however in general, early diagnosis combined with proactive treatment increases the chance of long-term success in these patients.