Background:
Canine mammary cancers are the most common neoplasms in female dogs, and their optimal management requires early and accurate diagnosis. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as cytology and histopathology, despite their high value, have limitations. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the utility and accuracy of modern diagnostic methods in the management of canine mammary tumors. Methods: To conduct this systematic review, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using predefined keywords. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were specified, and retrieved articles were screened independently by two authors based on title, abstract, and full text. Study quality assessment and data extraction were performed systematically. Results: This systematic review, which analyzed ۱۳ studies meeting inclusion criteria, concluded that novel imaging modalities, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and ultrasound elastography, exhibit greater sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors than conventional ultrasound. Advanced diagnostic imaging and molecular pathology enable precise preoperative staging, histopathological classification, and identification of specific prognostic markers such as HER۲ and Ki-۶۷, which are critical for tailoring individualized treatment plans and improving survival outcomes in dogs with mammary tumors.
Artificial intelligence (AI) image analysis, a digital pathology approach, is an example of a method that has significantly improved pathologists' diagnostic accuracy while increasing agreement among observers. There are other digital pathology methods as well, but those that are based on AI image analysis are especially noteworthy. In the field of biomarkers, the expression of the Ki-۶۷ protein, particularly the detection of specific microRNAs (such as miR-۲۱ and miR-۱۴۵) in blood and tissue samples, has been recognized as a powerful predictor of tumor invasion and metastasis. Conclusion: This systematic review's results clearly show that adding new diagnostic tools to existing procedures has changed the way canine mammary tumors are treated. These approaches enhance illness prognosis by facilitating earlier, more accurate, and molecularly substantiated diagnoses, hence enabling tailored therapy.