Evaluating planned surgical margins for complete resection of soft tissue sarcoma in dogs: 31 cases
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Updated: Oct 31, 2026
A Mouse Model of Incompletely Resected Soft Tissue Sarcoma for Testing (Neo)adjuvant Therapies
Published on: July 28, 2020
Sheriden L Nicholes1, Joanne L Tuohy1
1Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Objectives Animals And Procedure:
The main objective of this study was to evaluate whether, in canine soft tissue sarcoma, planned surgical lateral margins of a minimum 2 cm versus a minimum 3 cm yield complete histologic (tumor-free) margins with the same frequency. A secondary aim was to evaluate if planned narrow margins of 1 to 1.5-centimeter lateral margins with 1 fascial plane deep can produce an acceptable rate of complete surgical excision.
Results:
Of tumors that were sampled preoperatively, biopsies were obtained in 14/30 (46.6%) of cases; 85% of these were accurate in diagnosing tumor grade. Of the 31 total tumors included in this study, there was complete resection in 7/8, or 88% (95% CI: 79%, 92%), with a 1 to 1.5-centimeter lateral margin; 10/11, or 91% (95% CI: 85%, 94%), with a 2 to 2.5-centimeter margin; and 11/12, or 92% (95% CI: 86%, 95%), with a 3-centimeter margin. All 3 incompletely resected tumors were grade 1.
Conclusion And Clinical Relevance:
Although statistical significance was not demonstrated due to a small sample size, the results of this study suggest clinical importance, with comparable rates of resection among these groups.
