How Veterinarians Diagnose Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs (PetMD from Chewy)

Veterinarians may suspect hemangiosarcoma based on clinical signs and history. Because hemangiosarcoma can affect any body system, testing and diagnosis is different based on individual cases.

• All forms of hemangiosarcoma involve staging, which is a determination of the severity and spread of the disease. Staging will decide available treatment options for pets and develop a general prognosis and expected survival time.
• Once a veterinarian suspects hemangiosarcoma, they will typically recommend bloodwork, chest x-rays, an abdominal ultrasound, and a cardiac echocardiogram.
• Advanced imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI, can help figure out the extent of disease spread.

Splenic hemangiosarcoma

• Veterinarians may diagnose a dog with splenic hemangiosarcoma after an acute collapse episode or weakness after a tumor ruptures. Often, splenic hemangiosarcoma is diagnosed after a veterinarian feels an enlarged spleen or incidentally discovers a mass on the spleen during an x-ray or ultrasound.
• For a definitive diagnosis, the spleen must be biopsied, and the samples must be evaluated by a pathologist.

Cardiac hemangiosarcoma

• Heart tumors are usually diagnosed by an ultrasound of the heart, known as an echocardiogram.
• Veterinarians may suspect a heart tumor after episodes of collapse and other evidence of poor heart function. These tumors may also be discovered incidentally on routine chest x-rays.
• A biopsy would also be required for a definitive diagnosis, but due to the location of the tumor around the heart, a biopsy is dangerous and typically not recommended.
• Most cardiac tumors are suspected to be hemangiosarcoma, but few are confirmed.
• Cardiac hemangiosarcoma is commonly discovered with other types of hemangiosarcoma, most notably of the spleen.
  • During the diagnostic workup process for splenic hemangiosarcoma, veterinarians typically closely evaluate the liver, lungs, and heart, which are all common places for hemangiosarcoma to spread.

Cutaneous/subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma

• Veterinarians typically start diagnosing skin tumors with a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA). To perform an FNA, a veterinarian will use a needle to collect a small sample of tumor cells. These cells are then evaluated under a microscope.
• Some tumors easily shed cells during this process; however, most FNAs performed on hemangiosarcomas are only blood-filled and do not readily offer a diagnosis.
• A non-diagnostic FNA may raise a veterinarian’s suspicion of cutaneous or subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma.
• A surgical biopsy is required for a definitive diagnosis. (PetMD from Chewy)