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Your dog was diagnosed with Histiocytic Sarcoma — Disseminated. Disseminated form carries extremely poor prognosis. Same breed predispositions as localised but often presents at advanced stage. Compare 3 treatment options for dogs including CCNU (Lomustine) Single Agent, CCNU + Doxorubicin Combination, Comfort Care / Palliation — with survival times, costs, and what to expect during treatment.

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Histiocytic Sarcoma — Disseminated

disseminated

BreedsBernese Mountain DogFlat-Coated RetrieverRottweiler
canine

Round Cell

About This Cancer

Disseminated histiocytic sarcoma is a rapidly progressive cancer in which malignant dendritic cells spread to multiple organs simultaneously, most commonly the lungs, liver, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. It may develop as the spread of a previously localised tumour or arise in multiple sites from the outset. This form carries an extremely poor prognosis, with survival often measured in weeks to a few months even with treatment. The same breeds predisposed to the localised form — Bernese Mountain Dogs, Flat-Coated Retrievers, and Rottweilers — are at highest risk. Treatment options are limited, and the primary goal is often to maintain comfort and quality of life for as long as possible.

Prognostic Factors(1)
Disseminated diseasePrognosis is poor regardless of treatment. MST ~170 days. Palliative approach often most appropriate.
Minimum Workup(5 steps)
1Histopathology with immunohistochemistry
2Complete staging: CT preferred, or thoracic radiographs + abdominal ultrasound
3CBC, biochemistry
4Bone marrow aspirate
5FNA of affected organs

Median Survival Time Comparison

How long the average patient survives with each treatment

Bar opacity reflects evidence strength
CCNU (Lomustine) Single Agent
~4 mo (3–6)
CCNU + Doxorubicin Combination
~6.1 mo (0.6–13.4)
Comfort Care / Palliation
~2 mo (1–3)
Reading this page: MST (Median Survival Time) is how long the average patient survives with a given treatment. ORR (Overall Response Rate) is the percentage of patients whose tumour shrank or disappeared. CR = Complete Response (tumour gone); PR = Partial Response (tumour shrank). Hover over any abbreviation for a quick explanation.
Strength of Evidence

Each treatment is rated by how much published research supports its use. Solid bars indicate stronger evidence; dashed bars mean less certainty.

StrongLarge published studies with strong agreement among veterinary oncologists.
ModerateWidely used in clinical practice, but supported by smaller or retrospective studies.
IndirectEvidence comes from a different tumour type or species and has been applied here.
LimitedVery little published data is available for this specific treatment.

Please note: All treatment data is sourced from published peer-reviewed literature. Survival times and cost figures are approximate guides. Your pet's individual factors — including tumour grade, stage, and overall health — will influence outcomes and should guide all treatment decisions. The strength-of-evidence rating reflects how much research exists, not how strongly a treatment is recommended. This tool is designed to help you have informed conversations with your veterinary oncologist, not to replace them. Costs shown are US referral centre estimates and may vary significantly by region.