Journal of Small Animal Practice • Vol 54 • September 2013 • © 2013 British Small Animal Veterinary Association 495 CASE REPORT Journal of Small Animal Practice (2013) 54, 495–498 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12076 Accepted: 21 March 2013; Published online: 6 May 2013 Successful transendoscopic oesophageal mass ablation in two dogs with Spirocerca lupi associated oesophageal sarcoma E. Yas*, G. Kelmer†, A. Shipov‡, J. Ben-Oz* and G. Segev* *Department of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel †Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel ‡Department of Small Animal Surgery, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel This report describes two cases of oesophageal tumours managed by transendoscopic neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser ablation and polypectomy snare electrocautery. In each dog oesophagoscopy revealed caudal oesophageal masses, suspected to be Spirocerca lupi-induced oesophageal neoplasia. To resect the masses, transendoscopic neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser ablation was used in the first case and polypectomy snare electrocautery in the second. Recovery was uneventful. Histopathology was consistent with oesophageal fibrosarcoma and osteosar- coma in each case, respectively. Follow-up oesophagoscopy revealed apparently healthy oesophageal tissue except for focal scar tissue in the first case. Transendoscopic laser ablation and polypectomy snare electrocautery is a potential non-invasive, cost effective alternative for surgical oesophageal mass resection. INTRODUCTION Spirocerca lupi is a nematode of canidae, most commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas (Mazaki-Tovi et al. 2002). After larva migration through the gastric arteries and the aorta, the adult worm matures in the caudal oesophageal wall, where it promotes formation of a typical granulomatous nodule with a nipple-like orifice. Malignant transformation to various types of sarcomas has been reported (Ranen et al. 2004, Van der Merwe et al. 2008), and consequently the prevalence of oesophageal tumours increases in endemic areas. To date, resection and anastomosis or partial oesophagectomy are the only treatment options (Ranen et al. 2004). Such treatment options are invasive, cost prohibitive, associated with postoperative complications, prolonged hospitalization and painful recovery. A novel approach of transendoscopic laser ablation or polyp- ectomy snare electrocautery of oesophageal tumours is presented in this report. CASE HISTORIES Case 1 A 14-year-old, female spayed, mixed breed dog, weighing 25 kg, was presented to the Hebrew University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HUVTH) with the primary complaints of anorexia and lethargy over the previous 2 days. Physical examination revealed fever (40·8°C), and a large palpable abdominal mass. Haematology and serum biochemistry revealed anaemia [haema- tocrit (Hct) 34·6 L/L; reference interval, 37-55 L/L], leucocytosis (23·6×10 9 /L; RI 6-17×10 9 /L), hypoalbuminaemia (24·8 g/L; ref- erence interval, 28·3-38·3 g/L) and hyperglobulinaemia (45 g/L; reference interval, 26-33 g/L). Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated a large 10 cm diam- eter hyperechoic splenic mass, and three smaller intraparenchy- mal masses, ranging from 5 to 10 mm. Thoracic radiographs revealed a caudal oesophageal mass but were otherwise unremarkable. http://www.bsava.com/