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Your dog was diagnosed with Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Grade III (or Incomplete Excision). Grade III STS represents ~10% of all STS. Local recurrence rate 75% after marginal excision. Metastatic rate significantly higher than lower grades. Compare 3 treatment options for dogs including Wide Excision + Post-Operative Radiation, Wide Excision + Adjuvant Doxorubicin, Metronomic Chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide + Piroxicam) — with survival times, costs, and what to expect during treatment.

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Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Grade III (or Incomplete Excision)

BreedsLarge breed dogs
canine

Mesenchymal

About This Cancer

High-grade (Grade III) soft tissue sarcomas are significantly more aggressive than their lower-grade counterparts. These tumours arise from the same connective tissue cell types — fibrous tissue, peripheral nerves, blood vessel walls, fat, or muscle — but grow more rapidly, invade surrounding tissues more deeply, and have a much higher chance of spreading to the lungs and other distant sites. Without adequate surgical margins, the local recurrence rate is approximately 75%. Treatment typically involves wide surgical excision combined with radiation therapy and sometimes chemotherapy to address both local and distant disease. Importantly, any soft tissue sarcoma that has been incompletely excised also warrants aggressive follow-up treatment, regardless of its original grade, because residual tumour cells left behind have a very high likelihood of regrowth.

STS Grading System (Kuntz)

Based on mitotic index, degree of differentiation, and percentage of necrosis. Same system as used for Grade I-II entry. Grade III tumours score highest on all three parameters.

Stage Grade IWell-differentiated, low mitotic index, minimal necrosis. 7% recurrence after marginal excision. Low metastatic potential.
Stage Grade IIModerately differentiated, moderate mitotic index. 34% recurrence after marginal excision. Low-moderate metastatic potential.
Stage Grade IIIPoorly differentiated, high mitotic index (>20 per 10 HPF), significant necrosis (>50%). 75% recurrence after marginal excision. Metastatic rate ~40% (significantly higher than lower grades).
Prognostic Factors(3)
Grade III vs incomplete excision of lower gradeGrade III carries metastatic risk in addition to high local recurrence. Incomplete excision of Grade I–II is primarily a local control problem.
Grade III metastatic rateGrade III STS has a metastatic rate of approximately 40% (primarily pulmonary), significantly higher than Grade I (~7%) and Grade II (~17%). Metastatic disease is the primary cause of treatment failure for Grade III, unlike lower grades where local recurrence predominates.(General STS literature — specific figure varies by study; ~40% is composite estimate)
Grade III metastatic rateGrade III STS carries ~40% metastatic rate (primarily pulmonary), compared to <15% for Grade I-II. This significantly impacts treatment planning and prognosis.(Kuntz et al. — exact figure derived from composite retrospective data; no single prospective study)
Minimum Workup(5 steps)
1Pre-operative biopsy with grading
2Advanced imaging (CT/MRI) of tumour for surgical planning
3Three-view thoracic radiographs
4Complete blood count and biochemistry
5Regional lymph node assessment

Median Survival Time Comparison

How long the average patient survives with each treatment

Bar opacity reflects evidence strength
Wide Excision + Post-Operative Radiation
~40 mo
Wide Excision + Adjuvant Doxorubicin
See notes
Metronomic Chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide + Piroxicam)
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.