Surgical Excision of Intramuscular Sarcomas: Description of Three Cases in Dogs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Local control of intramuscular sarcomas of the limbs may include limb amputation or marginal excision plus radiotherapy. In human medicine, compartmental excision for local control of muscular sarcomas has been widely reported. This procedure is effective when a specific tissue, such as the fascia, acts as a barrier to the neoplastic invasion. The barriers define a compartment, i.e., an anatomo-functional region having the same origin. The aim of this study was to describe this surgical procedure in three dogs affected by intramuscular sarcomas with no signs of fascial invasion at imaging. No major complications were observed in any of the patients, and all experienced a rapid recovery. Tumours treated via compartmental surgery were: chondrosarcoma, a perivascular wall tumour and a hemangiosarcoma. Accurate preoperative tumour staging, including advanced imaging techniques, are necessary in order to perform this procedure successfully. ABSTRACT: Compartmental excision consists of the complete resection of an anatomic district in which specific structures act as a barrier to local tumour invasion. It is a well-established procedure in human medicine, while only a few reports are available in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to describe complete muscle resection in 3 dogs affected by different intramuscular sarcomas. The clinical outcome was also reported. Medical records were searched, including preoperative diagnostic findings, compartmental excision, histologic diagnosis, and outcome. Three dogs fit the inclusion criteria, which had a sarcoma confined to a single muscular belly (semitendinosus, biceps, and splenius capitis muscles). Complete excision of the affected muscle was performed in all cases. One dog showed moderate lameness in the immediate postoperative period, resulting from the dorsal lifting of the scapula due to serratus ventralis tenotomy performed to remove the caudal insertion of the splenius capitis muscle. All the dogs recovered fully within one month, experiencing good clinical function. Histopathology showed complete tumour removal with no neoplastic fascial disruption in all cases. Compartmental excision provides effective local tumour control, representing an alternative to limb amputation or more radical excision if adjuvant radiotherapy is not an option for owners.