Prognostic value of histological grading in noninflammatory canine mammary carcinomas in a prospective study with two-year follow-up: relationship with clinical and histological characteristics

Abstract

In this prospective study, a canine-adapted histological grading method was compared with histopathological and clinical characteristics and was evaluated as a prognostic indicator in canine mammary carcinomas (CMCs). Recruited dogs with at least 1 malignant mammary tumor (n = 65) were clinically evaluated, surgically treated, and followed up (minimum follow-up 28 months, maximum 38 months). Histopathological diagnoses were performed according to Goldschmidt et al (2011). Tumors were graded as grade I (29/65), grade II (19/65), and grade III (17/65). The tumor size, clinical stage, histological diagnosis, presence/absence of myoepithelial proliferation, and regional lymph node metastases at diagnosis were significantly associated with histological grade. The histological grade, age, clinical stage, tumor subtype group, and lymph node metastases at time of diagnosis were significantly associated with the development of recurrences and/or metastases, cancer-associated death, and survival times (disease-free survival and overall survival) in univariate analyses. A subdivision of clinical stage I (T1N0M0) into stages IA and IB was proposed in terms of prognosis. The clinical stage, histological grade, and spay status were selected as independent prognostic variables (multivariate analyses) with disease-free survival as the dependent variable. When overall survival was evaluated as a dependent variable, clinical stage and histological grade were selected as the independent covariates. This grading system is a useful prognostic tool, facilitates histological interpretation, and offers uniform criteria for veterinary pathologists. Comparative studies on CMCs performed in different countries should take into account possible changes in the prognoses due to different proportions of spayed females among the selected dog population.