Surgical management and outcome of a laryngeal myxosarcoma in a dog

A 9-month-old female spayed French Bulldog presented for respiratory stridor and exercise intolerance. Laryngeal examination showed an abnormally thickened left arytenoid cartilage. Fine needle aspirate of the mass was consistent with a well-differentiated spindle cell proliferation. The mass was marginally excised via a left-sided arytenoid approach and per os. Histopathology confirmed a well-differentiated myxosarcoma. Following surgery, the dog developed severe dyspnea and marked respiratory stridor consistent with airway obstruction secondary to laryngeal edema and inflammation. A permanent tracheostomy was performed. Three months post-operatively the dog was completely recovered, but early tumor regrowth was observed. This is the first report of laryngeal myxosarcoma in a dog. Permanent tracheostomy should be considered early in the surgical management of laryngeal neoplasia when more invasive surgical procedures are not elected to achieve a good outcome.