Veterinary Oncology – Core Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarize essential terms and definitions from the veterinary oncology lecture, covering fundamental concepts, diagnostic tools, treatment modalities, and the most common canine tumors.

Neoplasia

Abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells forming a mass (tumor).

Cancer

Malignant neoplasia capable of local invasion and/or metastasis.

Metastasis

Spread of cancer cells from a primary tumor to distant sites, often lethal factor.

Angiogenesis

Formation of new blood vessels that supply nutrients to a growing tumor and enable metastasis.

Staging

Numbered system (typically I–V) used to describe extent of a specific cancer for prognosis and treatment planning.

Oncologic Work-up

Series of diagnostics (history, physical, bloodwork, imaging, cytology/biopsy) performed when cancer is suspected.

Fine-Needle Aspirate (FNA)

Sampling technique using a thin needle to collect cells from a mass for cytology.

Biopsy

Removal of tissue for histopathology; gold standard for definitive tumor diagnosis.

Histopathology

Microscopic examination of stained tissue sections to identify tumor type and grade.

Chemotherapy

Use of chemical agents systemically to kill or inhibit rapidly dividing cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy (XRT/DXT)

Local treatment using ionizing radiation to destroy tumor DNA and shrink or eliminate masses.

Chemo-sensitivity

Degree to which a tumor responds to chemotherapy; often higher in cancers with high growth fraction.

Radio-sensitivity

Susceptibility of a tumor to radiation damage; varies by tissue origin (blood-borne > epithelial > connective).

Growth Fraction

Proportion of actively dividing cells within a tumor; correlates with chemo-sensitivity.

Combination Chemotherapy

Protocol employing multiple chemotherapeutic drugs to overcome resistance and improve efficacy.

Multimodal Therapy

Treatment plan combining chemotherapy with other modalities (radiation, surgery, etc.).

Palliative Therapy

Treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and improving quality of life rather than cure.

Paraneoplastic Syndrome

Systemic effect of cancer not directly related to tumor mass, e.g., hypercalcemia with lymphoma.

Hypercalcemia of Malignancy

Elevated blood calcium caused by certain tumors (e.g., lymphoma) releasing PTH-like peptides.

Lymphoma

Malignant proliferation of B- or T-lymphocytes; common canine cancer with variable presentations and stages I–V.

Lymphadenopathy

Enlargement of lymph nodes, often a clinical sign of lymphoma or metastatic spread.

B Cell

Lymphocyte maturing in bone marrow; B-cell lymphomas generally have better prognosis (“B is Better”).

T Cell

Lymphocyte maturing in thymus; T-cell lymphomas typically have poorer prognosis (“T is Terrible”).

Multiple Myeloma

Systemic malignancy of plasma cells infiltrating bone marrow, associated with monoclonal gammopathy and Bence-Jones proteinuria.

Bence-Jones Proteinuria

Presence of light-chain proteins in urine, characteristic of multiple myeloma.

Monoclonal Gammopathy

Excess single-type immunoglobulin in serum, seen in multiple myeloma and some chronic infections.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Neoplasia of mature lymphocytes in older dogs, often presenting with marked lymphocytosis.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Aggressive cancer of immature lymphoblasts in young dogs; rapid progression and poor prognosis.

Mammary Tumor

One of the most common tumors in intact female dogs; risk greatly reduced by early ovariohysterectomy.

Ovariohysterectomy (OHE)

Surgical removal of ovaries and uterus; performing before first estrus drops mammary tumor risk to <1%.

Mast Cell Tumor (MCT)

Dermal or subcutaneous tumor of mast cells, prone to releasing histamine/heparin and graded for prognosis.

Osteosarcoma

Aggressive primary bone tumor of large-breed dogs, commonly distal limbs; amputation plus chemo is standard therapy.

Hemangiosarcoma

Malignant tumor of vascular endothelium, often splenic in German Shepherds; can rupture causing acute collapse.

Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC)

Malignant tumor of bladder trigone epithelium; mimics recurrent UTI, diagnosed by ultrasound (avoid needle aspirate).

Lipoma

Benign tumor of adipose tissue; common in older, overweight dogs, usually soft and movable.

Trichoepithelioma

Benign (occasionally malignant) hair-follicle tumor, frequent in Basset Hounds; may cause self-trauma itching.

Technetium-99 Bone Scan

Nuclear imaging that highlights metabolically active bone lesions, useful in staging skeletal tumors.

Angiosarcoma Rupture

Acute bleeding into body cavity due to hemangiosarcoma mass tearing, leading to collapse and pale mucous membranes.

Amputation

Surgical removal of a limb, common first-line treatment for distal limb osteosarcoma to remove primary tumor.