Evaluation of Ultrasonography and Mammography in Diagnosis of Mammary Gland Tumor in Bitches: Based on Tumor Markers

This study refers to the role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of mammary gland tumor in bitches as a complementary diagnostic method and its ultimate goal is to evaluate the results of mammography with the positive results of ultrasonography.
Design: Prospective study.
Animals: 12 German Shepherd bitches with swollen mass in the mammary gland region (group I) and 12 healthy German shepherd bitches without any swollen mass (group II-healthy group).
Procedures: these bitches were evaluated by ultrasonography and assessment of axillary lymph nodes was performed simultaneously. Also, mammography was performed in these dogs and the results were reported by another radiologist. Finally, all suspected cases were referred for biopsy or surgery, and definite results were announced by the pathologist. In addition to, tumor markers such as carcino emberionic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) were detected in all samples (group I and group II).
Based on the results of the 12 cases of suspicious masses evaluated by ultrasonography, 9 cases of tumors (definitive diagnosis with pathological tests) and 3 cases of abscess were reported in the cases of group I. Moreover, tumor markers remarkably increased in the all sera samples of group I compared group II. The average diameter of the mass was 13 mm and the mean diameter of the lymph nodes was 5 mm. In mammography findings due to presence of dense mammary tissue, 18.3% of the cases had negative or only one asymmetric density and the remaining cases (81.7%) were positive.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Based on the results of this study, ultrasonography in diagnosis of mammary gland tumors especially in young bitches can be effective with high sensitivity.