Cryotherapy treatment of perianal adenoma in a dog

Abstract

Cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, refers to the general or local application of cold for treatment. Cryosurgery, a specific use of cryotherapy, is a treatment method that causes tissue damage by applying a cryogenic substance to abnormal cells and tissues and ensures that they are eliminated. Although there are many different methods in the treatment of tumors, cryosurgery has attracted great interest because it is less traumatic and has a faster healing process. Perianal gland tumors are the most common type of skin tumors, following mammary and mast cell tumors in dogs. The perianal glands are claimed to be accessory sex glands and have an endocrine system as they are small at birth, and grow under the influence of sex hormones throughout life. In this presentation, a case of adenoma and the results of its treatment with cryosurgery in a dog are presented. A Cavalier King Charles breed, 12 years old, intact male dog, which constitutes the case, was brought to Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgery, with complaints of swelling in the anal region, continuous bleeding and pain during defecation. In the physical examination of the patient, a mass of approximately 3 cm diameter was detected, covering the sphincter ani internus and externus, with ulceration and bleeding due to friction. The cryotherapy option was preferred considering the possible complications such as postoperative fecal incontinence, infection, bad or incomplete cicatrization due to the anatomical location of the mass, Cryotherapy and orchiectomy were performed after sampling from the lesion with punch biopsy. The histopathological examination of the patient, which had an anal adenoma, showed that the lesion was getting smaller day by day and there was no more bleeding in the 7th, 14th and 21st days postoperatively. The patient's relatives stated that, fecal incontinence did not occur and painful defecation ceased. It was concluded that cryotherapy shrinks the tumor without causing fecal incontinence and is beneficial in controlling secondary symptoms such as ulceration and bleeding especially in perianal tumors in contact with the anal sphincter.