Oncology

• Describe how to take high quality radiographs of the thorax, limbs and oral cavity in the diagnosis and staging of cancer 
• Explain the benefits given by computed tomography over conventional radiography in the diagnosis and staging of cancer 
• Describe what sentinel lymph node mapping is, and why it is beneficial 
• Compare and contrast the use abdominal ultrasonography to abdominal computed tomography in the staging of cancer 
• Compare and contrast the needs of staging solid tumours from round cell tumours   
• Compare and contrast different techniques for identifying cancer infiltration in liver and spleen 
• Give examples of risks or complications from the use of image-guided fine needle aspiration or biopsy 
• Describe optimal combinations of imaging modalities for the staging of different cancers 
• Describe the basics of interpreting MR images in the diagnosis of CNS neoplasia  
• Outline the benefit of techniques for example PET-CT over conventional contrast CT scanning   

• Explain how to identify whether a cytology sample is of adequate diagnostic quality 
• Describe cellular features of malignancy in the context of the cells in question 
• Be able to identify the cytological appearance of common benign and malignant skin tumours 
• Be able to identify mast cell tumours cytologically and comment on their degree of cellular differentiation 
• Explain the criteria for classifying a lymph node cytology smear as “lymphoma” versus “reactive hyperplasia”  
• Describe the use of different fine needle aspiration techniques to obtain diagnostic samples from different tumours 
• Explain the criteria used for the cytological diagnosis of a sarcoma and comment on features which may differentiate the type of sarcoma 
• Explain the cytological features of common carcinomas 
• Explain how flow cytometry works and why it is of value in the diagnosis of lymphoid malignancies 
• Describe examples of different PCR-based tests available for diagnosis of canine cancers and comment on the limitations of these tests 

• Outline the limitations and complications possible with surgical or needle-core biopsy of solid tumours 
• Describe, compare and contrast different methods for assessing completeness of excision 
• Explain the difference between palliative and definitive radiation therapy, and give examples of cancers appropriate for each 
• Explain the 4 Rs of radiation therapy  
• Explain the difference between acute and delayed adverse effects of radiation therapy 
• Describe the principles and limitations of maximum tolerated dose chemotherapy 
• Describe the principles and limitations of metronomic chemotherapy 
• Describe the principles and limitations of small molecule inhibition 
• Give examples of the use of immunotherapy in veterinary oncology and the challenges it faces 
• Discuss pertinent considerations in counselling of a client whose pet is being considered for chemotherapy treatment 

• Compare and contrast the presentation of lymphoma in cats and dogs 
• Describe the means of diagnosis of lymphoma 
• Compare and contrast the utility of diagnostic tests to confirm or subtype lymphoma between dogs and cats 
• Explain the value of the information gained from staging a case of lymphoma 
• Describe important prognostic factors for canine and feline lymphoma 
• Describe appropriate treatments and prognoses for different types of canine lymphoma 
•  Describe appropriate treatment for different presentations of feline lymphoma 
• Discuss the evidence base for the treatment of canine indolent lymphomas 
• Describe prognostic factors and treatment for chronic and acute lymphoid leukaemias in dogs and cats 
• Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment for multiple myeloma in dogs and cats 

• List important prognostic factors for canine mast cell tumours, from history, physical examination and histopathology 
• Discuss the relative independence of one prognostic factor versus another, and outline the strongest indicators of prognosis 
• Explain how to use immunohistochemical labelling appropriately 
• Describe practical methods of staging mast cell tumours depending on their location on the body 
• Describe appropriate use of surgical treatment for a mast cell tumour 
• Describe options for treatment of an incomplete surgical excision 
• Explain when to use chemotherapy for mast cell tumours 
• Explain when to use tyrosine kinase inhibitors for mast cell tumours 
• Describe appropriate circumstances for the use of intralesional tigilanol tiglate. 
• Explain prognostic factors and outline treatment for feline cutaneous, intestinal and visceral mast cell tumours 

• Explain a pragmatic approach to the investigation and treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous masses in dogs 
• Describe the prognostic factors for soft tissue sarcomas 
• Describe the surgical approach to canine soft tissue sarcomas  
• List the options for treatment of soft tissue sarcomas where excision with appropriate margins is not possible 
• List the options for treatment of soft tissue sarcomas where surgical excision is incomplete 
• Describe appropriate chemotherapy treatments for metastatic or high-grade soft tissue sarcomas 
• Describe the causal factors and clinical presentation of feline injection site sarcomas 
• Explain how and when to investigate a cutaneous / subcutaneous mass on a cat 
• Describe appropriate treatment of a feline injection site sarcoma 
• Describe appropriate means of minimizing the risk of feline injection site sarcomas  

• Describe important risk factors for the developing of a canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) 
• Describe means of diagnosis of a canine TCC (and the associated limitations) 
• Describe the behaviour and prognosis for canine TCCs 
• Describe appropriate treatments for canine TCCs 
• Explain the differences between canine and feline TCCs 
• Explain important causal factors in the development of a canine prostate tumour   
• Outline the biology, treatment and prognosis of the transmissible venereal tumour 
• Describe the prognostic factors for canine mammary tumours and outline the strongest prognostic factors 
• Describe the prognosis for feline mammary tumours and outline the strongest prognostic factors 
• Explain the evidence base for the medical treatment of canine and feline mammary tumours   

• Describe the radiographic features of aggressive bone lesions in dogs and cats 
• Describe safe and pragmatic techniques of investigating aggressive bone lesions in dogs and cats 
• Describe the prognostic factors, staging and treatment of canine osteosarcoma 
• Compare and contrast the difference in behaviour and treatment between canine osteosarcoma, histiocytic sarcoma and other sarcomas of bone. 
• Compare and contrast the radiographic features, behaviour, treatment and prognosis between canine and feline osteosarcoma 
• Describe the key differential diagnoses and prognostic factors for canine and feline sinonasal tumours. 
• List appropriate steps in the investigation and treatment of sinonasal tumours 
• Describe prognostic factors and differential diagnoses for pulmonary tumours 
• Describe appropriate management of canine and feline pulmonary tumours 
• Outline the behaviour, prognosis and treatment of thymomas in cats and dogs 

• Outline the important differential diagnoses for oral tumours in dogs and in cats 
• Describe an appropriate and pragmatic investigation for an oral mass 
• Describe treatment options and treatment options for common oral tumours in dogs and cats 
• Outline the important differential diagnoses for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tumours in dogs and in cats 
• Describe an appropriate and pragmatic investigation for a gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary tumour 
• Describe treatment options and treatment options for common gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary tumours in dogs and cats 
• Describe the epidemiology, clinical presentation and investigation of anal gland and perianal tumours in dogs 
• List important prognostic factors for anal gland tumours in dogs 
• Describe treatment options for both advanced and early anal gland tumours in dogs 

• Explain methods of predicting the diagnosis of a splenic mass based on signalment and clinical presentation, and the accuracy of these techniques 
• Describe pragmatic approach to spontaneous haemoabdomen in dogs   
• Outline the differential diagnoses and prognosis for spontaneous haemoabdomen in cats 
• Explain the pathology of haemangiosarcoma, in relation to its behaviour and paraneoplastic disease 
• Describe prognostic factors for canine haemangiosarcoma 
• Describe appropriate treatments for canine haemangiosarcoma, with and without gross disease 
• Describe the biology, pathophysiology, epidemiology and prognostic factors for canine  
• Describe appropriate treatments for different presentation of histiocytic sarcoma 
• Outline the management of less-common splenic malignancies 

Describe the pathophysiology of common tumour-related endocrinopathies of the adrenal, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid glands and beta cells of the pancreas 

Choose appropriate diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of the above endocrinopathies  

Describe appropriate management of the above endocrinopathies  

Outline definitive treatment for the above tumour-related endocrinopathies  

Describe the clinical presentation, pathologies, and imaging findings in different neurological tumours 

List the challenges in the diagnosis of neurological tumours 

Describe the treatment options for neurological tumours and the factors which influence response to treatment 

Outline important benign and malignant ocular tumours 

Describe treatment options and prognosis for ocular tumours