This study provides important information regarding the diagnosis and classification of cutaneous and subcutaneous canine neoplasms, as it was possible to establish malignancy predictive characteristics by all techniques used (B-mode, Doppler, and ARFI elastography). In addition, it was possible to determine an ultrasound examination protocol that could contribute to lesions diagnosis and prognosis and provide individual ultrasound characteristics for each studied tumor type. Because it is a complementary method, its characteristics are highly sensitive and have a positive predictive value. These results were obtained in all three ultrasound techniques that were performed.
Given the high number of cutaneous and subcutaneous neoplasm types, it should be considered that they have different structural components and biological behaviors. They can range from benign to highly aggressive and metastatic lesions [18], which justifies the moderate results observed. The authors would like to emphasize the importance of studies regarding specific cancer types, as the present study results differed from previous canine mammary tumors findings. In another study, with breast tumors, different characteristics and predictive values of malignancy were found [14].
There were no associations between malignancy and tumor measurements in this study, which can be explained by the fact that neoplasms were diagnosed at different stages. There were no associations with echogenicity, which may be related to the different pathological processes involved, such as active inflammation or tissue necrosis in different tumor types [19]. A preliminary study involving 42 cutaneous neoplasms showed an association between malignancy and hypoechogenicity [15]. A greater number of neoplasms and specific types of skin cancer that were included in the present study may explain the discrepancy between the two studies.
The heterogeneous echotexture indicative of malignancy seen in cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors is explained by the different structural components, such as the presence of cavitary areas, points of fibrosis, or microcalcifications. The association between heterogeneous echotexture and malignancy was already demonstrated in previous studies with different types of neoplasms (cutaneous and mammary) in both humans and animals [13, 15–17, 20].
It was possible to identify the signs of invasiveness in adjacent tissues because of their reactivity or the difficult tumors delimitation and then associate it with malignancy. This association is justified because malignant neoplasms tend to be more aggressive and invasive than benign ones, even requiring a greater safety margin when surgically removed [21].
On Doppler, it was not verified any qualitative characteristic with malignancy. It is known that tumor growth, both in malignant and benign lesions, is dependent on the blood supply [22]. Therefore, it is reasonable the fact that no significant results were obtained in neoplasm differentiation through these characteristics even though other researchers showed associations with malignancy in other tumor types, such as breast cancer in women and canine mast cell tumors [23, 24].
Even though no vascularization points were observed in some tumors by color Doppler, the lack of vascularization should not be ruled out. It is known that the color Doppler technique has limitations at microvascular level and tissue perfusion, requiring other methods for diagnostic complementation, such as contrasted ultrasound [14]. Nevertheless, this technique was not available and could not be tested in the present study. This Doppler technique limitation contributed to the impossibility of evaluating all neoplasms by pulsed Doppler, with the Doppler velocimetry indices being calculated for only a portion of those who presented vascularization in color Doppler.
The lack of association between RI, systolic peak, and diastolic velocity with malignancy could be because it was only possible to identify the arterial flow in 9 benign neoplasms, predominantly in malignant lesions (82.35% of cases). However, a PI increase in malignant neoplasms was verified. The increase in this index has already been associated with malignancy in other types of lesions, such as ovarian and thyroid tumors in humans and metastases in canine lymph nodes. These may be related to the compressive effect tumor, the angiogenesis process, and the presence of arteriovenous shunts, which promote turbulent flows with high perfusion rates [25–27].
In the same way, as B-mode observed heterogeneity, the increased rigidity observed in malignant neoplasms can also be explained by tissue components they may present. In a previous study, greater stiffness was found in malignant mammary tumors in female dogs compared to benign ones, and this increase in stiffness was justified by the presence of areas of fibrosis, microcalcifications, and even collagen deposition [14].
The study of the rigidity of skin neoplasms in dogs has already been carried out qualitatively and semiquantitatively (through scores) through elastography, with greater rigidity being observed in malignant tissues, however no real quantitative values of the shear wave velocity were obtained. only subjective analysis [17]. On the other hand, this study provides more detailed information regarding neoplasms stiffness since it was possible to verify that an SWV greater than 3.52 m/s was indicative of malignancy. In addition, the elastography method used (ARFI method) allows more reliable results that are easy to perform, with greater reproducibility and less interobserver variability than sonoelastography [28].
Some benign neoplasms, such as adenomas, showed high tissue stiffness, justified by the accumulation of keratin and predominantly lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate [29], that cause rigidity alterations in the keratinocytes and extracellular matrix [30, 31].
Because ultrasonography is a complementary exam and should not be used alone to diagnose neoplasms, in this study, we demonstrate the importance of the association between the findings of the different techniques performed. These have been already described for evaluating breast tumors in women, where an increase in accuracy was found when elastography and Doppler findings were associated [24]. In our study, as we increased the number of malignancy predictive characteristics, there was a decrease in the number of false positives, increase in protocol specificity, and positive predictive value.
Among the study's limitations, it should be considered that some tumor types had a low experimental number, and as noted in this discussion and we had some values discrepancies (e.g., adenomas), which may be responsible for the low specificity and accuracy values that were observed.