Abstract
Background
Gastric tumours in dogs, although uncommon, present considerable diagnostic and treatment challenges, often diagnosed late in the disease course, resulting in poor prognosis. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) and positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) offer promising approaches in human medicine for intraoperative tumour detection and metastasis assessment. However, their application in veterinary medicine, particularly in cases of canine gastric tumours, is not well-reported.
Case presentation
A 13-year-old Maltese dog with an abdominal mass underwent 18F-FDG PET/computed tomography (CT) for tumour localisation and metastatic evaluation. PET/CT scans revealed a gastric mass near the esophagogastric junction and demonstrated mean and maximum standardised uptake values (SUVs) of 4.596 and 6.234, respectively, for the abdominal mass. Subsequent surgery incorporated ICG for NIR fluorescence-guided imaging, aiding in precise tumour localisation and margin assessment. The excised mass, identified via histopathology as a low-grade leiomyosarcoma, was imaged using PET/CT post-operatively, confirming the absence of recurrence or residual lesions during follow-up.
Conclusions
This case report presents a novel application of ICG-guided surgery and 18F-FDG PET/CT in a canine gastric tumour. NIR fluorescence imaging using ICG demonstrated efficacy in real-time tumour visualisation and margin assessment, a technique not previously reported in veterinary literature. The PET/CT findings complemented the diagnosis and provided valuable insights into metastasis. The absence of recurrence or complications in postoperative follow-up underscores the potential of these imaging modalities in enhancing surgical precision and improving prognosis in canine gastric tumours.