Lesion distribution based on oral biopsy and histopathology in dogs: a retrospective study of 338 cases (2015-2025).

Histopathologic confirmation is essential for all canine oral masses, as over half are non-neoplastic.

This retrospective study characterized the histopathologic distribution of 338 biopsy-confirmed canine oral lesions in South Korea over a 10-year period (2015–2025), a region where small-breed dogs predominate. Lesions were classified as tumor-like (non-neoplastic), benign neoplastic, or malignant neoplastic. Tumor-like lesions comprised the majority at 52.7%, underscoring that many clinically apparent oral masses are non-neoplastic. Among confirmed neoplasms (n=160), benign tumors were far more common (73.7%) than malignant tumors (26.3%). Peripheral odontogenic fibroma (POF) and canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma (CAA) were the most prevalent benign diagnoses. Among malignant tumors, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was most frequent (50.0%), followed by malignant melanoma (MM) at 26.2%—a notable divergence from large-scale international studies where MM typically predominates, potentially reflecting regional breed demographic differences. Dogs with malignant tumors were significantly older (median 12.0 years) compared to those with benign tumors (median 9.0 years), whereas body weight, sex, and general anatomical site were not significantly associated with malignancy. Specific tumor types did exhibit distinct anatomical site preferences. The authors emphasize that histopathologic confirmation is essential for all oral masses, as clinical appearance alone is insufficient for diagnosis. Age and lesion location should inform differential prioritization in clinical practice.

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