The oncology clinic

Oncopathological Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on the assessment of the condition of individual body parts according to the definitions of each pathology.

First, it is determined whether the formation is a tumor or simply tissue swelling.

Types of Formations:

1. Tumors (Oncology)
2. Formations (Tissue swelling or inflammation with pronounced volume increase, fluid accumulation, etc.)

A tumor or neoplasm (also called a neoplasia) is a pathological formation that develops independently in organs and tissues and is characterized by polymorphism and cellular atypia, i.e., uncontrolled cell division, their multiplicity, and atypical nature. Other changes in organs, tissues, and other body parts are not called cell neoplasms and are diagnosed using corresponding methods.

Diagnostic Timeliness in Oncology:

1. Early Diagnosis: Malignant tumor diagnosis determined as cancer in situ or at clinical stage I. Principles of early diagnosis must be explained. Given that altered cell assemblies are constantly formed and rebuilt in the body under the influence of the immune system, which is the basis of pathological cell swelling, early diagnosis has some limitations. Otherwise, any high-sensitivity analysis will show pathology, but it will not be oncology. According to various sources, this can be quantitatively expressed as 30–50 million cells. These data might be revised over time.

2. Timely Diagnosis: Diagnosis discovered in stage II and in some cases stage III.

3. Late Diagnosis: Diagnosing in later stages – III and IV, where it is already very difficult to cure the patient.

It is clear that malignant tumors should be diagnosed as early as possible, as early diagnosis allows significantly better treatment outcomes.

Diagnostic Methods Used in Veterinary Clinic “Kavet”:

Cross-diagnosis with different diagnostic methods is used to minimize the possibility of false positives and negatives. At the start of the diagnosis, it must be determined whether the process is benign or malignant. Benign tumors are diagnosed by performing oncotests and evaluating clinical symptoms. Pet owners usually notice the formation themselves. Benign tumors grow slowly, often do not cause pain, have a round shape, a clear boundary with surrounding tissues, and a smooth surface. The only concern is the presence of the formation itself. In such cases, diagnosing benign tumors is not particularly complicated. They are not life-threatening by themselves. In some locations, tumors disrupt organ function, helping to quickly detect neoplasms. However, it should be remembered that the traditional division of tumors into benign and malignant based on morphological characteristics sometimes conflicts with clinical signs. For example, a colloidal goiter, considered benign, can metastasize, while a basal cell carcinoma with local destructive growth does not form metastases. Similarly, a well-differentiated papillary thyroid cancer cannot always be distinguished from a benign adenoma. In cases of malignant tumors with low tissue differentiation, even an experienced doctor cannot always determine histogenesis, as it is difficult to distinguish undifferentiated cancer from sarcoma with histological examination. Any benign tumor can become malignant under favorable chromosomal aberration conditions. It is a matter of time, but diagnosis is an immediate procedure.

Diagnostic Challenges for Malignant Tumors:

Four main syndromes are identified:

1. Syndrome: Additional Tissue

   • Tumors can be identified as new tissue in the localization zone. They are easy to identify in superficial tumor locations (in the skin, muscles), and sometimes the tumor can also be palpated in the abdominal cavity. Additional tissue can be identified using diagnostic methods: endoscopy, ultrasonography, X-ray, etc. Thus, the tumor or symptoms characteristic of additional tissue (e.g., filling defect in the stomach on X-ray examination using barium sulfate contrast) can be detected.

2. Syndrome of Pathological Secretions

   • If inflammation occurs around the tumor or a mucogenic cancer form is detected, and mucous or mucous-purulent secretions appear (e.g., in the case of colon cancer). These symptoms are collectively called the syndrome of pathological secretions. These signs help distinguish tumors: if there are bloody secretions from a breast tumor, it is most likely a malignant tumor.

3. Syndrome of Organ Dysfunction

   • Manifestations of this syndrome vary and depend on the tumor’s location and the organ’s function: intestinal obstruction, digestive disorders (nausea, heartburn, vomiting) in case of stomach cancer, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) in case of esophageal cancer. These symptoms are non-specific but often found in cancer patients.

4. Syndrome of Mild Symptoms

   • This usually includes complaints of weakness, lethargy, unexplained fever, weight loss, poor appetite, anemia. Sometimes this syndrome appears in the early stage and is the only sign of a malignant tumor. Sometimes it is detected later as cancer-related intoxication. Such sick animals have a characteristic “oncological” appearance: very thin, sunken eyes, dull fur, and pain symptoms. This appearance can indicate the presence of oncology.

Diagnostic Tools and Methods:

Invasive Methods:

• Histology, cytology, histochemistry, and others using material from the tumor itself. These provide official diagnoses and are the most reliable considering additional details, such as hormone dependence and hyperexpression. Disadvantages include high cost and the potential for further cell multiplication due to biopsy procedure stimulation.

Indirect Diagnostic Methods:

1. Oncotest-1

   • Based on anisotropic crystallization of erythrocytes under the influence of specific acid salts, which change the negative charge on the cell surface membrane, encasing a sick organ’s complement. In use since 2006 with a reliability of 70-75%. Originated by Professors E.I. Suslov and V.A. Vladimirov.

2. Oncotest-2

   • Based on the destruction of conformational bonds of histone proteins. Given proper conditions, reliability is 85-90%. Not used after antibiotics and hormonal preparations or with creamy serum or internal hemolysis. Blood is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. Used since 2006, covering nearly 800 animals. Patented in Latvia, Ukraine, and the USA by Professors E.I. Suslov and V.A. Vladimirov.

3. Govallo V.I. Method

   • Based on determining changes in the size ratio of lymphocytes in a sick organism. Used since 2001 by Professor Govallo V.I.

4. Neopterin and Other Proteins

   • Oncological pathologies include chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and melanoma.

Hematology

As malignant oncology progresses, anemia is increasingly diagnosed. Causes are often unrelated to tumor processes and are based on multiple mechanisms, such as increased erythrocyte destruction, hidden bleeding, reduced erythrocyte production due to iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid deficiency, or secondary toxicity from chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Granulocytopenia often relates to bone marrow tumor infiltration in malignant hematological diseases and can develop post-chemotherapy. Etiological factors for thrombocytopenia are similar to those for anemia.

Immunogram

Immune system disturbances are also observed in clinically advanced oncology cases, determined by skin tests for common antigens and lymphocyte response to mitogen stimulation in vitro. The degree of tumor process development correlates strongly with immune system dysfunction.

Phagocytosis

Phagocytosis indicates changes in phagocyte activity before and during treatment, used since 2001.

Imaging Methods:

• X-ray and fluoroscopy
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Ultrasonography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Only mutual consistency in the applied diagnostic methods, with intersecting mechanisms of action, by collecting and evaluating positive or negative results, provides a basis for diagnosis.