Case #17
 

Figure 1 Limb prepared for surgical draping. Medial view of the thigh.

SIGNALMENT: 10-year-old female spayed Cocker spaniel. HISTORY: Two (2) year duration enlarged mass right rear limb in thigh region. One week ago lameness noted and the dog's use of this limb decreased markedly. DIAGNOSIS: Cytology of the mass done in 9/97 read as dissecting lipoma. Physical examination revealed extreme enlargement of the right thigh primarily laterally, caudally, and medially. The patella was noted to luxate laterally. TREATMENT: The entire limb was prepped for surgical exploration (Figure 1).

A surgical approach to the lateral femur was made and the fascia lata incised along the cranial border of the biceps muscle (Figure 2) revealing an apparent lipomatous mass. The mass was resected using a combination of sharp and blunt dissection, hemorrhage was controlled via electrocautery and the sciatic nerve protected during the surgical procedure. The majority of this tumor was resected and a Penrose drain placed in the defect at closure (Figure 3).

Figure 2 Incision of the fascia lata at the cranial edge of the biceps femoris muscle revealing the tumor beneath the muscle layer.

Figure 3 Postoperative view of the femur with Penrose drain placed.

DIAGNOSIS: Histopathological diagnosis was a benign lipoma. The prognosis is good.   ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Thank you to Dr. Paul Aldridge, Mingo Road Veterinary Hospital, for this referral.     CASE ARCHIVES: Click on Case Archives to access a list of past case features.