A 8-year-old spayed female, Shih Tzu showed dyspnea caused by intratracheal invasion of thyroid carcinoma and received palliative radiation therapy and a permanent tracheostomy. The protocol of palliative radiotherapy was 9 Gy weekly fractions of orthovoltage X-rays to a total dose of 27 Gy with cisplatin (5 mg/m
2, iv) in each fraction. Dyspnea improved after the 2nd radiation therapy, but a relapse occurred at 5 months after the treatment. To keep upper airway, a permanent tracheostomy was performed. Following the operation, the dog could have good quality of life for 15 months (20 months after radiation therapy) till pulmonary metastases progressed.
View full abstract