Organopathology of the mammary gland in female carnivores: current state of research issues

The article presents the results of studies on the prevalence of mammary gland lesions in cats and dogs in veterinary hospitals of the city of Dnipro and associated with a wide range of pathological processes. Pathological processes (neoplastic, hyperplastic, inflammatory) in the mammary gland, in case of untimely diagnosis and treatment, give rise to the development of neoplasms, which are mostly malignant and manifest as adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, and carcinoma. Studies of mammary gland organopathology in female carnivores have shown that among mammary gland diseases in female pets, adenocarcinoma and adenoma (38 % and 10 %, respectively), lymphoma and sarcoma (2 % and 3 %, respectively), mastopathy (5–7 %), mastitis (10 %), and agalactia (1 3 %) were recorded. In cats aged 5 to 10 years and older, the tumour process is predominantly malignant, with an intensive and rapid course. Dogs aged 5 to 10 years are at risk of developing both non-malignant and malignant mammary tumours. In dogs over 10 years of age, malignant and benign mammary tumours are detected with equal frequency. Adenoma and fibroadenoma are more commonly recorded types of benign mammary neoplasms, and malignant processes are recorded in the form of adenocarcinoma, carcinoma, lymphoma, and sarcoma in cats and dogs. Adenocarcinomas are the most common malignant tumours of the breast. Carcinomas, lymphomas, and sarcomas are recorded to a lesser extent. Adenocarcinoma and mastopathy are more common in cats than in dogs. In dogs, cases of benign fibrocystic mastopathy are reported. It has been proven that in small animals, a combination of imaging methods (ultrasound, computed tomography, and radiography) is advisable for more accurate diagnosis and differential diagnosis of mammary tumours, which assess the size of the tumour, its vascularization, and characteristics. In any case, the diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory methods (morphological examination). The morphological studies of the affected mammary tissues allowed us to diagnose and structure tumour diseases, compare the data obtained with the results of a clinical study, and clarify the main clinical and morphological criteria for verifying the diagnosis.