All canine diagnoses

Your dog was diagnosed with Multilobular Osteochondrosarcoma (MLO). Uncommon tumour arising from skull and flat bones. Locally aggressive with significant metastatic potential (56%). Slow-growing but progressive. Compare 2 treatment options for dogs including Surgical Excision (Craniectomy / En Bloc Resection), Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) — with survival times, costs, and what to expect during treatment.

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Multilobular Osteochondrosarcoma (MLO)

BreedsMedium to large breed dogs
canine

Mesenchymal

About This Cancer

Multilobular osteochondrosarcoma (MLO) is an uncommon tumour that arises from the flat bones of the skull and, less frequently, from other flat bones. It grows slowly as a hard, lobulated (lumpy) mass that gradually expands, and its name reflects its distinctive microscopic pattern of multiple rounded lobules of bone and cartilage. Despite its often slow clinical progression, MLO has meaningful metastatic potential — approximately half of cases will eventually spread to distant sites, most commonly the lungs. Treatment hinges on surgical removal, and achieving complete excision with clean margins is the single most important prognostic factor. The tumour's skull location can make surgery challenging, and advanced techniques including craniectomy or stereotactic radiation may be needed.

Prognostic Factors(1)
Surgical margin statusComplete excision offers best chance of long-term control but recurrence still 47%. Incomplete margins have higher recurrence.(Dernell et al., 1998 (PMID 9527424, n=39 dogs))
Minimum Workup(4 steps)
1CT scan of skull/affected area
2Biopsy with histopathological grading
3Three-view thoracic radiographs
4Complete blood count and biochemistry

Median Survival Time Comparison

How long the average patient survives with each treatment

Bar opacity reflects evidence strength
Surgical Excision (Craniectomy / En Bloc Resection)
~26 mo
Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT)
See notes
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.