Laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma in a dog treated with surgery and palliative-intent radiation therapy

Primary laryngeal tumors are rare in dogs and may cause severe airway obstruction. Euthanasia is frequently elected because of the severity of clinical signs and the challenges associated with surgical treatment. A 3-year-old spayed female Italian greyhound dog was referred because of recurrence of a laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma following incomplete surgical removal of a laryngeal mass. Residual tumor progression was identified 15 d after surgery and the dog was referred for further evaluation. Computed tomography revealed a soft-tissue mass within the right laryngopharyngeal wall, showing central contrast enhancement. The owner declined additional aggressive surgery and radiation therapy was delivered. A total radiation dose of 24 Gy was delivered in 4 weekly fractions. Clinical signs improved following treatment and tumor reduction was observed 168 d after initiation of radiation therapy. The dog remained clinically stable with sustained tumor reduction at the last follow-up, 742 d after initiation of radiation therapy. This case suggests that limited surgical management followed by radiation therapy may represent a viable treatment option and may lead to favorable long-term clinical outcomes in dogs with laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma. Key clinical message: Limited surgical removal followed by radiation therapy may represent a treatment option for dogs with laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma.