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PRACTICAL DENTISTRY PEER REVIEWED INTRODUCTION TO ORAL NEOPLASIA IN THE DOG & CAT Brook A. Niemiec, DVM, FAVD, Diplomate AVDC T he oral cavity is a very common place to encounter neoplastic growths, which may range from benign to malignant.1-3 The key to successful therapy of oral masses is early detection and definitive diagnosis. The best therapy for oral masses is complete surgical resection.1,4-5 If surgery is performed early, the procedure is much less invasive. In addition, early detection and treat- ment decreases the odds for tumor metastasis. The information presented in this article not only helps improve patient care but also improves practice revenue through proper client education (see Educating Clients About Oral Neoplasia, page 56). This is the sixth article in the Practical Dentistry series, which is focused on teaching veterinary professionals how to provide high-quality dental care as well as educate clients about this care. The first five articles in the series can be found at todaysveterinarypractice.com under Article Lists: 1. Dental Services: Good Medicine for Patients & Practices (September/October 2011) 2. The Importance of Dental Radiology (November/December 2011) 3. Proper Therapy for Endodontic Disease (January/February 2012) 4. Periodontal Disease: Utilizing Current Information to Improve Client Compliance (March/April 2012) 5. Dental Extractions: Five Steps to Improve Client Education, Surgical Procedures, & Patient Care (May/June 2012) 52 Today's Veterinary Practice July/August 2012 TYPES OF MASSES Benign Masses6 The most common oral growths were originally termed epulids (fibromatous and ossifying)1 ; now they are identi- fied as peripheral odontogenic fibromas.6 Another benign oral mass is the acanthomatous ameloblastoma, which was originally termed an epulis. Peripheral odontogenic fibromas are overgrowths of the periodontal ligament (Figures 1A and 1B),1 classify- ing them as hamartomas (benign masses resulting from an overgrowth of mature cells normally present in the affected tissue). These masses can grow very large, but are not aggressive. They do not cause bony reaction (Figure 1C), but the ossifying type produces bony proliferation. Acanthomatous ameloblastomas are locally aggres- sive, but do not metastasize. The most common location of these fleshy tumors is in the incisor/canine region of large-breed dogs.1 not have radiating microtendrils (Figure 2). Malignant Masses3 Squamous cell carcinomas (Figure 3) are the most common malignant oral tumors in cats, with fibrosarco- mas (Figure 4, page 54) a distant second. Both are typically seen in older cats and locally aggressive but late to metas- tasize. These soft tissue tumors secondarily invade bone, sending out branches of cells that cannot be seen clinically. Melanosarcomas (Figure 5, page 54) are the most common malignant oral tumor is dogs (typically seen in older dogs with dark pigmented gingiva).7 Melanomas are locally aggressive and also metastasize very early in the disease course. At time of diagnosis, 90% of melanomas have already spread. Fibrosarcomas (Figure 6, page 54) They originate within the bone but do