A major new survey of more than 240 veterinary professionals has revealed a concerning gap in the diagnosis of canine dermal and subcutaneous growths, with 62% of masses presented in practices going untested.
This striking figure highlights a missed opportunity for earlier cancer detection, which in turn limits the ability of veterinary teams to improve medical outcomes for their patients. On average, general practitioners report seeing 13.5 dermal and subcutaneous masses per vet per week, yet fewer than six of those cases lead to a diagnosis. With around 15% of these lumps ultimately proving malignant, thousands of dogs may be leaving clinics each week without a clear diagnosis.
Oncologists are warning that the current “wait and see” culture risks delaying treatment and worsening outcomes. Dr Gillian Dank, a leading veterinary oncologist, said: “Every week, thousands of dogs leave practices with undiagnosed masses. While many are benign, others are malignant, and delaying diagnosis can mean lost treatment opportunities and poorer prognoses.”
The survey uncovered typical barriers preventing vets from performing more widespread testing. The number one reason cited by vets is the assumption that a mass is benign by its gross characteristics, followed by owner concerns around cost, time constraints during consultations, and limited access to in-house cytology.
Dr. Craig Clifford, a leading veterinary oncologist, whose stated primary focus is helping general practitioners adopt practical oncologic techniques to improve patient outcomes, also expressed concern about the lack of testing. “I’ve seen too many cases where a ‘wait and see’ approach dramatically altered a patient’s trajectory. If a mast cell tumor or soft tissue sarcoma is identified early, survival can be measured in thousands of days. But when diagnosis is delayed, we’re often left facing non-resectable or metastatic disease.”
Beyond the clear implications for patient care, the survey also revealed the potential for considerable practice growth.
Practitioners were asked about typical client costs of diagnostic tests, which highlighted the financial implications of under-testing. By performing diagnostics on more of the lumps they encounter, vets could be generating thousands in additional revenue at a time when practices face mounting financial and operational pressures. These findings underscore an opportunity to both improve patient care and strengthen client trust, while improving practice profitability.
Veterinary experts stress that overcoming these challenges with accessible, efficient, and cost-effective diagnostic tools will be key to improving outcomes for patients while unlocking sustainable business growth for practices.
The full survey results are now available to download as an infographic here: https://info.ht-vet.com/lump-and-bump-survey-results, accompanied by an on-demand webinar discussion featuring Dr Natalie Marks alongside oncologists Dr Craig Clifford and Dr Gillian Dank that can be viewed here: https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/continuing-education/syllabus/lesson/cracking-code-lumps-bumps-fast-efficient-diagnosis-everyday-practice. Together, they explore the most effective, efficient, and conclusive strategies for diagnosing lumps and bumps in general practice.
HT Vista will also be exhibiting at the London Vet Show on stand W53 at ExCeL London. Visit the team to learn more about the HT Vista device and see live demonstrations throughout the event.
Chief Commercial Officer Asher Fink and Managing Director Liron Levy-Hirsch will be speaking on 20 November from 1–1:50pm in Exhibitor Showcase Theatre 2. Their session, “20 dogs in your waiting room with lumps and bumps – how do you spot the 3 with cancer?”, will explore practical approaches to improving diagnostic efficiency and early cancer detection in general practice. More details can be found at: https://london.vetshow.com/conference-programme-2025/session-title-coming-soon-38
Leave a Reply