Mast cell tumour destruction in dogs by hypotonic solution

Distilled water was studied as an hypoosmotic oncolysis agent to prevent mast cell tumour (MCT) recurrence following surgical excision. The results from 118 MCTs excised in 74 dogs were: surgery alone, a recurrence rate of 52.6 per cent (10/19); and surgery followed by distilled water injections into the wound, a 26.2 per cent (26/99) recurrence rate. All of 10 small MCTs (0.03 to 0.25 cm3) injected with distilled water in situ with no surgery, regressed. The present data suggest that distilled water should be considered as an adjunct to surgery for canine MCTs.