Cutaneous and subcutaneous masses may develop anywhere on your pet's body and can arise from a variety of cell types. These growths may be benign or malignant and can vary significantly in their rate of growth and biological behavior. Any new, changing, or abnormal lump should be evaluated by your veterinarian as early detection and diagnosis are important for determining the most appropriate treatment plan.

An initial diagnostic test, such as a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or needle biopsy, may be recommended by your primary care veterinarian to help identify the type of mass and determine whether surgical removal is indicated. In some cases, additional tissue sampling or complete surgical excision may be necessary for definitive diagnosis.

At Sully Veterinary Group, surgical excision of masses can be performed with submission of the tissue to a veterinary pathology laboratory for histopathologic evaluation. Pathology results will be forwarded to your primary care veterinarian to assist with ongoing treatment recommendations and follow-up care.

When the diagnosis of a mass is uncertain prior to surgery, or when a mass is suspected to be malignant, every effort will be made to obtain appropriate surgical margins by removing a surrounding area of visually normal tissue along with the mass. As a result, the surgical incision is often significantly larger than the visible growth itself. In certain anatomical locations, complete surgical margins may not be achievable due to limited skin availability or proximity to important structures. In these situations, debulking surgery, in which the majority of the mass is removed, may be the safest or most appropriate option.

Post-operative management may include placement of surgical drains and/or bandages depending on the size and location of the excision site. Detailed discharge instructions and home care recommendations will be provided at the time of your pet's discharge.

Please note that pricing for mass removal procedures is based primarily on the complexity and size of the surgical incision required to safely remove the mass and obtain appropriate margins, rather than the external size of the growth alone. If a mass has been definitively identified as benign prior to surgery, wide surgical margins may not be necessary. However, when the nature of the mass is unknown, surgery is typically performed with the goal of achieving the cleanest margins possible to maximize removal of potentially cancerous tissue.

  For all surgically excised masses, we strongly recommend submission of the tissue for histopathologic evaluation (biopsy) by a veterinary pathologist. While some masses may appear benign based on appearance or needle sampling, only a full biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis, determine whether the mass is benign or malignant, and evaluate whether complete surgical margins were achieved. This information is essential in guiding prognosis, determining if additional treatment or monitoring is needed, and ensuring the best possible long-term care for your pet.

Please call us for pricing!

Hover pictures below to see before and after photos of a cat mass removal. (May be graphic)