Optical Coherence Tomography for Margin Evaluation of Canine Skin and Subcutaneous Neoplasms

Cancer is a common problem affecting an estimated 1 in 3 dogs in their lifetime and represents the leading cause of death in older dogs. The skin and subcutaneous tissues are common sites for development of tumors in older canines. Complete surgical removal is important in dogs to decrease the chance of recurrence. Histopathology is commonly used to assess completeness of resection but only assesses a small proportion of the surgical margins with results becoming available several days after surgery. There is a critical need for validation of improved imaging methods for real-time microscopic tumor sample assessment to improve surgical accuracy, reduce patient morbidity and improve outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging for assessment of surgical margins for resected canine cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors.

Participation Requirements:

Surgery at Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center for any skin or subcutaneous tumor (excluding lipoma)

Owner's Responsibiities:

Response needed to questionnaires about whether tumor has recurred or spread at 6, 12 and 18 months after surgery.