Subtotal urethrectomy and urethral-vaginal anastomosis for the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra in a dog

Abstract

A 10-year-old 4.7-kg spayed female mix breed dog presented with mucoid vaginal discharge despite treatment for cystitis for a month. A malignant neoplasm was suspected based on atypical cells found on vaginal mucus cytology. A cystoscopy biopsy was performed, and the histopathologic diagnosis was consistent with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). A subtotal urethrectomy and urethral-vaginal anastomosis were performed. Treatment with piroxicam (0.3mg/kg eod for 1278 days) and carboplatin (150～250mg/m2/3～4 weeks, nine times) was initiated 2 weeks postoperatively. Other than recurrent cystitis that started 3 weeks postoperatively, the patient maintained a good quality of life with neither recurrence nor metastasis. The patient died of renal failure 3 years and 9 months (1395 days) after the initial visit. While TCC is generally considered to have poor prognosis, it was suggested from the management of this case that early diagnosis and radical surgery could achieve good long-term survival.