Prostatic adenocarcinoma with and without metastasis to bone in dogs

The signalment, clinical signs, and histologic tumor pattern were compared retrospectively in 12 dogs having primary prostatic adenocarcinoma with (5 cases) and without metastasis (7 cases) to bone. Weight loss and lumbar pain were observed more frequently in dogs having prostatic adenocarcinoma with metastasis to bone. A distinctive histologic pattern was not associated with prostatic adenocarcinoma that had metastasized to bone. The alveolar papillary pattern was the predominant histologic type observed in both groups. Metastasis to extrapelvic bony sites included the scapulas, ribs, and digits. The results of this study indicate that skeletal metastasis was not uncommon in dogs having prostatic adenocarcinoma.