Red Flags of Mast Cell Tumors: Identifying their Toxic Traits

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of mast cell biology and its clinical relevance in veterinary medicine. We will begin with the normal function of mast cells in health, setting the stage for understanding their role in disease. Attendees will then review the typical clinical presentation of patients with mast cell tumors, followed by a discussion of current diagnostic approaches used in practice. Commonly employed staging tools to assess the extent of disease will be covered and the session will conclude with a review of treatment options currently available. By the end of the session, participants will gain a practical framework for recognizing, diagnosing, and managing mast cell tumors in clinical settings.

• Recall the basic biology and functions of normal mast cells in canine patients.
• Identify the most common presentation for cutaneous mast cell tumors in canines.
• Understand the basic diagnostic testing for MCTs in canines.
• Understand how diagnostic tests can assist in establishing a prognosis for canines with MCTs.
• Describe the basic principles and current treatment options for the treatment of canine MCTs.