Well its not convienent but the pathologist is right that you can't really say without a bigger chunk (I assume the sample was a BAL?). I suspect they saw questionable cells they think are carcinoma cells...so that would really make cysts and granumolomas (which can be just as bad if they are fungal or something nasty) less likely.
While that isn't an option or even the best thing for him, it is possible that his signs decreased not b/c the antibiotics would affect a tumor but rather would help lower the probable bacterial secondary infection likely caused by the tumour preventing proper mucus/gunge clear out. So, antibiotics might be a mode of just settling down any bugs associated and perhaps helped to settle some inflammation/irritation at the site.
I wouldn't say the treatment response would change the diagnosis, just helping settle the irritation at the site of the mass.
I admit my experience of primary lung tumors are limited to cats, but like any tumour it is likely it didn't just arrive yesterday, so its a question of time on how long it takes to cause a problem as it grows.
Though if its a solitary discreet mass, would there be the option of surgical excision?
"While that isn't an option or even the best thing for him, it is possible that his signs decreased not b/c the antibiotics would affect a tumor but rather would help lower the probable bacterial secondary infection likely caused by the tumour preventing proper mucus/gunge clear out. So, antibiotics might be a mode of just settling down any bugs associated and perhaps helped to settle some inflammation/irritation at the site."
Exactly what I was going to say. Hopefully it's nothing too bad :( How old is your guy?
Yeah I suppose it could be settling a secondary infection. We don't know his exact age, as he was an adult stray when we got him 5 years ago. So he's probably at least 7 or so.
We haven't done a BAL, although the thought did cross my mind. The diagnosis is coming just from the radiographs. If we went the surgical route, we would have to go to a larger hospital (probably U of Minn) because we don't have the capabilities at our clinic to do thoracic surgery. I'm reluctant to do that due to our tight budget and the fact that he is perfectly normal otherwise. Good point about the abx just treating secondary infection.
While that isn't an option or even the best thing for him, it is possible that his signs decreased not b/c the antibiotics would affect a tumor but rather would help lower the probable bacterial secondary infection likely caused by the tumour preventing proper mucus/gunge clear out. So, antibiotics might be a mode of just settling down any bugs associated and perhaps helped to settle some inflammation/irritation at the site.
I wouldn't say the treatment response would change the diagnosis, just helping settle the irritation at the site of the mass.
I admit my experience of primary lung tumors are limited to cats, but like any tumour it is likely it didn't just arrive yesterday, so its a question of time on how long it takes to cause a problem as it grows.
Though if its a solitary discreet mass, would there be the option of surgical excision?
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Exactly what I was going to say. Hopefully it's nothing too bad :( How old is your guy?
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We don't know his exact age, as he was an adult stray when we got him 5 years ago. So he's probably at least 7 or so.
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If we went the surgical route, we would have to go to a larger hospital (probably U of Minn) because we don't have the capabilities at our clinic to do thoracic surgery. I'm reluctant to do that due to our tight budget and the fact that he is perfectly normal otherwise.
Good point about the abx just treating secondary infection.
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