Vet help with X-ray

[TimBer]

Any vets that can help look at this x-ray? This is the right paw of my 7 year old lab. Our doc is afraid it may be cancer. I'm curious if any vets here can give me a second opinion based on this film. Any help is appreciated.

Tim

[gchappel]

I really can not see the detail well. Differential is primarily between a healing stress fracture and an aggressive round cell tumor- sarcoma. In people a healing stress fracture is more common. Followup in 4-6 weeks. Difficult to work up sometimes, a biopsy will usually NOT help. There is so much osteoblastic/clastic activity even in a benign healing fracture that on biopsy it can look malignant.
I am not a vet, but I did stay at a holiday inn express. I do look at people's images all day long.
Gary

[deanp]

We had a similar issue with our Saint Bernard, except the tumor was closer to the joint and the swelling (hard mass) put pressure in the joint causing lameness. I could move the foot, press on the bump and no reaction, trying to walk on it caused pain. It appeared all of a sudden - I had hoped for a stress fracture, thinking that was the worst case scenario. Our vet took one look at the x-ray and said it was sarcoma - could tell by the texure of the density of the mass compared to surrounding bone, and the shape (thickness) of the membrane. I hope in your case it is better news -

[Tobra]

It looks like a fracture, mostly. If you look at the distal end of the involved bone, there appears to be a periosteal reaction(that rough part closest to the surface) At the other end, close to the wrist, it almost looks like a bite has been taken out of the bone.

Maybe repeat films in a few weeks and compare them. I don't know about dogs, but osteosarcoma in a carpal/tarsal bone is pretty GD rare in humans.

[TimBer]

Thank you for the help. I guess I'm relieved there is a chance it is not sarcoma.

Tim

[RWebb]

ask your vet if they can get a specialist (at CSU most likely) to take a look at it; also get the radiologist to advise on what further diagnostic steps are indicated

[Tobra]

I perhaps was not as clear as I should be, the changes at the proximal end, where it appears tohave had a bite out of it, does not look like a typical fracture. As I say, people feet I know, dog feet, not so much, but I figure bone is bone. It could be a lot of stuff, infectious process, pathologic fracture secondary to benign or malignant tumor, lot of might be stuff.

Good luck with the pooch

Tobin

[TimBer]

I am back out at sea, but I got a message from my wife that she took Bailey to the oncology vet on Friday and he said it is not osteosarcoma. We'll do another set of films in 4 weeks to make sure. We are very relieved. Thank you again for the help and input.

Tim

[fxeditor]

Originally Posted by TimBer

I am back out at sea, but I got a message from my wife that she took Bailey to the oncology vet on Friday and he said it is not osteosarcoma

Hey Tim,
That is terrific news! I am so happy for you and your family!

Take care,
Michael