The recent literature supports the sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in dogs with MCT due to discrepancy with the regional lymph node and the high percentage of occult metastasis. However, the SLN biopsy includes additional anesthesiologic, diagnostic, and surgical procedures, and additional costs. The study aimed to assess the association between clinicopathological variables and SLN status, determining the identification of dogs at lower risk of SLN metastases. Dogs with integumentary MCT were admitted to the lymphoscintigraphic mapping and subsequent biopsy of SLN. The association between clinicopathological variables of MCT and SLN status was statistically tested, both considering occult and overt metastasis together (HN2-HN3) and overt metastasis (HN3) alone. Fifty low-grade cutaneous MCT and 16 subcutaneous MCT were included. A small to moderate association between integumentary MCT ≥ 3 cm and HN2-HN3 SLN was found. A strong association of integumentary MCT dimension and subcutaneous MCT with HN3 SLN occurred. Dimension of low-grade cutaneous and subcutaneous MCT seems to correlate with SLN status, but additional study should confirm this data before excluding small MCT to the SLN biopsy. On the contrary, the study results induce a solid suggestion for mapping and biopsy of the SLN in MCT > 3 cm and subcutaneous MCT.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a well-established staging tool in canine oncology. This study aims to explore the feasibility of SLN biopsy in dogs with scars from prior excised solid malignancies that were referred for further tumor staging and/or adjuvant treatment options. Mapping was either performed using radiopharmaceutical, methylene blue, and/or near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging. Thirty-three dogs with 34 scars from prior excision of the mast cell tumor (MCT) (n = 29), soft tissue sarcoma (n = 2), oral melanoma (n = 1), subungual melanoma (n = 1), and mammary adenocarcinoma (n = 1) were retrospectively enrolled. Primary treatment consisted of curative intent/wide tumor excisions in 50.0% of dogs and marginal excision in the remaining 50.0%. The median time between tumor excision and SLN biopsy was 50 days (range 17–110 days). The procedure was successful in 31/34 scars, translating to a detection rate of 91.2%. The SLN did not correspond to the regional lymph node in 19/31 scars (61.3%). SLN metastases were histologically identified in 13/31 (41.9%) dogs, all of them affected by MCT. Based on our results, SLN biopsy using lymphoscintigraphy/methylene blue and/or NIRF is feasible in dogs presenting with scars from the prior surgical excision of solid tumors, and should be suggested for accurate nodal staging.

There is increasing evidence on the utility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) for the staging of dogs with various malignancies; however, comparable information is missing in cats. This multi-institutional study aims at reporting the feasibility and detection rate of SLNB guided by lymphoscintigraphy and the blue dye or near-infrared fluorescent lymphography (NIRF-L) in cats with solid tumors. In total, 12 cats presented with 14 solid malignancies that underwent curative-intent surgical excision of the primary tumor and SLNB were retrospectively enrolled. The mapping technique used, location and number of SLN, correspondence with the regional lymph node (RLN), and histological status of the SLN were retrieved. The detection rate and complications of SLNB were also recorded. NIRF-L was performed in 64.3% of tumors and lymphoscintigraphy in 35.7%. The detection rate was 100% for both techniques. The SLN did not correspond (fully or partially) to the RLN in 71.4% of cases, with multiple SLN being excised in 9/14 tumors. No complications related to SLNB were recorded. At histopathology, metastases were identified in 41.7% of cats, all with mast cell tumors (MCT). SLNB guided by NIRF-L or lymphoscintigraphy is feasible and safe in cats with solid tumors and should be suggested for correct tumor staging in cats, especially with MCT.

Methylene Blue (MB) is combined with radiopharmaceutical for intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping, but its role during SLN extirpation has not been investigated yet in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to assess whether MB increased surgical detection of SLN beyond the use of intraoperative gamma-probe (IGP) alone in clinically node-negative dogs with mast cell tumors (MCTs) following the detection of sentinel lymphocentrums (SLCs) via preoperative planar lymphoscintigraphy. Dogs enrolled underwent MCT excision and SLC exploration guided by both MB and IGP. Data recorded for each SLN were staining (blue/non-blue), radioactivity (hot/non-hot), and histopathological status (HN0-1 vs. HN2-3). A total of 103 dogs bearing 80 cutaneous, 35 subcutaneous, and 1 mucocutaneous MCTs were included; 140 SLCs were explored, for a total of 196 SLNs removed. Associating MB with IGP raised the SLNs detection rate from 90% to 95%. A total of 44% of SLNs were metastatic: 86% were blue/hot, 7% were only blue, 5% were only hot, and 2% were non-blue/non-hot. All HN3 SLNs were hot. Combining MB with IGP can increase the rate of SLN detection in dogs with MCTs; nonetheless, all lymph nodes identified during dissection should be removed, as they might be unstained but metastatic.

Several studies evaluating Ki67 in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (cMCTs) have reported its prognostic value when tumors of all histological grades are included. This study aims to evaluate whether the Ki67 index has a predictive value in a homogeneous cohort of G2/LG cMCTs with HN2 lymph nodes (LNs) and to describe the clinical outcome. The second goal was to explore the correlation between the Ki67 index and MC. The medical databases of three institutions were retrospectively searched for dogs undergoing surgical treatment for cMCT and LN extirpation, with a histological diagnosis of G2/LG with HN2 LNs. Information about histological margins, MC, Ki67 index, local recurrence, nodal relapse, distant metastasis, de novo cMCT occurrence and date and cause of death were included. A total of 39 cases were identified. None of these developed local and nodal relapse or metastatic distant disease. Median MC was 1 (0–2). Median Ki67 index was 3.5 (0.7–14.3). Ki67 and MC were not significantly correlated. At the end of the study, 32 (82%) dogs were alive, 7 (18%) dogs were dead from unrelated causes and 4 (10.2%) dogs were lost to follow-up. The median ST was not reached, and the mean was 893 days (104–2241 days). Considering the strict inclusion criteria, dogs affected by G2/LG with HN2 LNs treated with surgery alone may have a good oncologic outcome; the Ki67 index does not have prognostic impact.