34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

To determine if compartmental resection of infiltrative lipomas reduces the risk of local recurrence compared to marginal excision or debulking.

Methods:

Study design Observational clinical retrospective study.

Animal population Twenty-nine client-owned dogs surgically treated for infiltrative lipoma. 

Methods Clinical records were evaluated for signalment, history, physical examination, results of diagnostic imaging and clinical pathology, time to recurrence and postoperative outcome. 

Results:

Infiltrative lipomas were most commonly located in the pelvic limb (12/29; 41.3%) predominantly within the thigh (10/29; 34.5%). Computed tomography (CT) provided the highest rate of diagnosis (100%), compared to biopsy (60%) and aspiration cytology (0%). Recurrence was reported in 9/13 (69.2%) debulk, 1/9 (11%) compartmental and 0/1 radical excision; recurrence was significantly less likely with compartmental excision compared to debulking (p=0.011; OR 18.0; 95% CI 1.65-196.31). Performing a debulking surgery prior to compartmental excision did not affect the likelihood of recurrence, (p=0.39). Median time to representation for recurrence following debulk was 342 days (range 187-995).

Conclusions:

Compartmental excision of infiltrative lipomas resulted in a statistically lower rate of recurrence than debulking and than previously reported. No dysfunction was reported associated with myectomy.

Clinical Significance Compartmental excision is preferred in the treatment of infiltrative lipomas.