Sebaceous Epithelioma

Sebaceous Epithelioma--Intermediate Malignancy

Patient: Enzo
Age/Sex/Breed: 12 year old male Husky Mix

Prior History:
Enzo is a large Husky-cross born in November 1997. The owners adopted Enzo in 2003 and a lot of his prior history is unknown.

Current History:
He's had a long history of allergic skin disease, high water intake, always panting, soft stools and occasionally gassy. He has moderate oily seborrhea, no active evidence of bacterial skin infections but has periodically been on antibiotics for skin infections. In the past, some of his symptoms seem to improve with food changes. He has numerous wide spread tumors and nodules on his skin. A mass on his right cheek started to grow and change character recently.

Diagnostics:
Prior food allergy screens suggested a wheat, corn & turkey sensitivity. Blood chemistry screens in 2/07 showed some mild azotemia with Leptospirosis screens being negative. He tested strongly positive for the Plechner Syndrome. Biopsy of the right facial skin tumor revealed a Sebaceous Epithelioma (intermediate malignancy). This cell type is intermediate between adenomas and carcinomas in their behavior.

Therapy:
Veterinary Immune Tabs were started on 12/1/08.

Follow up:
1/6/09 - On recheck the tumor had shrunken a small amount to 2.5cm X 2.7cm. There was a depression in the central area of the tumor, the borders were becoming irregular and the base was shrinking which allowed a ruler to be slid underneath. These are signs of cell necrosis and tumor regression.

2/3/09 - The mass dimensions are unchanged but there is a more definitive central depression along with developing large cracks and fissures on the surface indicating ongoing regression.

Assessment:
I frequently utilize the Veterinary Immune Tabs to shrink skin tumors prior to surgical removal especially if they are located in a difficult to excise location. In Enzo's case, because of other ongoing issues, we're allowing for ongoing tumor regression in hopes of avoiding general anesthesia and surgery to remove the mass. Hopefully in time, we'll be able to use just a local anesthetic and remove the tumor at the narrowed base. In the mean time, we are improving his overall level of Health and Wellness with the nutritional ingredients in the Veterinary Immune Tabs.

Attending Veterinarian: Dr. Bill Burlingame

Enzo 8/25/08 Before therapy. Note marked lobulations.

Enzo 12/13/08

Enzo 12/13/08 Close up taken by owner at beginning of therapy. Note larger size and smooth rounded surface compared to 8/08. Firmly attached at borders. Size 2.5cm X 3.0cm

Enzo 1/6/09 5 weeks into therapy. Tumor size is a little smaller at 2.5cm X 2.7cm. The borders are becoming irregular and the base is shrinking allowing a ruler to be slipped underneath.

Enzo 2/3/09 Tumor size is unchanged but note more central depression and large fissures and cracks are developing indicating cell necrosis