Presentation, treatment, and outcome of lipomas of the pelvic canal in dogs

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, computed tomography (CT) findings, treatment and outcomes of dogs diagnosed with intrapelvic lipoma. Material and Methods: Medical records from multiple European institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs with CT imaging and cytological or histological confirmation of a primary intrapelvic lipoma were included. Results: Thirteen dogs met the inclusion criteria. The most common clinical complaint was related to defecation: tenesmus in 9 dogs (69.2 %), altered stool shape in 6 dogs (46.15 %), and dyschezia in 4 dogs (30.7 %). Clinical signs had been present for a median of 21 days (range 5-180 days) prior to diagnosis. CT imaging revealed a fat attenuating mass in all dogs. All dogs underwent surgery. Recurrence occurred in three dogs (23.1 %) at a median of 220 days (range 90-510 days). Four dogs (30.7 %) are still alive with a median follow-up time of 507 days (range 325-780 days) after diagnosis. Only one dog (7.7 %) was reported to be euthanised because of its intrapelvic lipoma. Five dogs (38.5 %) died with a median time to death of 889 days (range 220-1740 days) and four (30.7 %) were lost to follow-up. Kaplan Meier overall survival time was 1020 days (range 220-1740 days). Conclusion: CT imaging was effective in identifying fat content of the mass, strongly supporting the diagnosis of intrapelvic lipoma. Prognosis appears favourable following surgical excision and likelihood of recurrence is low.