Bladder Cancer

A dog was presented to All Pets for a second opinion. The dog had been experiencing bloody urine for several months. Antibiotics for infection failed to resolve the problem. An ultrasound revealed a large mass within the bladder. Urine is black on an ultrasound. The mass is the large white object in the center of the image at the left. 

The dog was placed under general anesthesia and prepared for surgery. An incision was made within the abdomen and the bladder, at left, was exteriorized. The urine was then emptied from the bladder.

The bladder was excised and the mass was exteriorized from the lining of the bladder. The picture to the left demonstrates the mass within the bladder. The mass was resected from the bladder. Since the mass was quite invasive, a portion of the bladder was also removed.

The bladder was then sutured closed. Given the stretchy nature of the bladder, large portions of the bladder can be resected without any major consequences as long as the area where the ureters (tubes that come from each kidney) and urethra (the tube that empties urine out of the body) exit are left intact. 

The bladder incision was checked for leaks and a tissue graft (Biocyst) was placed over the incision to ensure a leak proof seal. The portion of resected tumor was sent in for biopsy. The diagnosis was transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). TCC is the most common tumor of the bladder. It has a high liklihood of metastasis or spread to other sites within the body. This dog was placed on an oral chemotherapeutic which will hopefully suppress the cancer and prevent it from reoccuring. She will be examined periodically for relapse.