Tumor venéreo transmissível em cães no Distrito Federal, Brasil (2016-2023)

Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a round cell neoplasm that primarily affects the genital organs of dogs. For the diagnosis of this disease, cytopathological examination is recommended, allowing for the classification of the tumor’s cell lineage as lymphocytoid, plasmacytoid or mixed. Treatment is generally performed using chemotherapy, and the tumor cell lineage can influence the therapeutic response. A retrospective study was conducted on TVT cases diagnosed at a veterinary clinic and a veterinary pathology laboratory in Brazil’s Federal District. A total of 116 TVT cases were evaluated. Most of the affected animals were sexually mature, unneutered dogs, with the vulva and penis being the most commonly affected regions. However, the majority of dogs did not present additional lesions, suggesting that this neoplasm is frequently found in active and otherwise healthy animals. The most frequently reported macroscopic presentation consisted of nodular lesions with friable, bloody secretions of varying sizes. Cytological examination was responsible for diagnosing most cases. However, no significant clinical or macroscopic differences were observed among the TVT subtypes. The importance of neutering and comprehensive case documentation in clinical records—including follow-up and treatment—is emphasized to support future research.