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Thyroid Tumor
Malignant thyroid tumors (thyroid carcinoma) behave differently in dogs and cats. In dogs, they are usually non-functional masses found as throat lumps. In cats, they are almost always functional and cause hyperthyroidism.
Key Facts
- Dogs: 87% of thyroid growths are malignant; usually do not affect hormone levels
- Dogs: detected as a lump in the throat; average age at detection 9 years
- Dogs: predisposed breeds include Boxer, Beagle, Golden Retriever
- Dogs: 16-38% have metastasis at diagnosis (lungs, lymph nodes)
- Dogs: treatment options include surgery (median survival ~3 years if mobile), external beam radiation, radioiodine, chemotherapy
- Cats: less than 5% of thyroid growths are malignant; usually cause hyperthyroidism
- Cats: pertechnetate scan identifies malignancy; I-131 therapy yields ~3-year median survival
- Cats: malignancy suspected when standard treatments fail to control thyroid levels
- Species: dogs and cats