SCAM25009U Companion Animal Surgery – Soft Tissue Surgery II. Advanced Soft Tissue and Cancer Surgery

Volume 2025/2026
Education

This course is a compulsory course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The Master is a postgraduate education targeting small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Note that hvis course is only available to enrolled students pursuing the full programme and is not open to single course students

 

Read more about the  Master of Companion Animal Science.

Content

To extend the student's knowledge, skills, and competences within the approach to assessment and management of the companion animal cancer patient in need of surgery. The course will extend the students assessment and management of companion animal cancer patients in need of surgery and plan the perioperative management of the patient including special anaesthesia and analgesia requirements.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the course, the student shall be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Understand the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical appearance of neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on surgical intervention.
  • Understand the influence of surgical neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients on the selection of anesthesia and pain alleviation.
  • Use and continue to develop common and typical surgical techniques in the treatment of neoplastic disease in companion animal patients with a focus on acute symptom relief.
  • Explain, reflect on, and discuss a problem-oriented and evidence-based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with surgical neoplastic disease.
  • Define and identify relevant anatomical structures.

 

Skills

  • Perform atraumatic surgical techniques in particular with regards to tissue handling and minimally invasive diagnostics in regard to companion animal neoplastic disorders including fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, mastocytoma, oral and laryngeal cancers, respiratory cancers, gastro-intestinal and pancreatic cancer, hepatic and biliary cancer, and urological cancers.
  • Evaluate, plan, and perform reconstructive surgery used for cancer patients.
  • Assess companion animal cancer patients perioperatively with a focus on treatment effects, complications, and prognosis, including adjuvant therapy.

 

Competences

  • Evaluate, plan, and manage a diagnostic work-up for a companion animal patient with neoplastic disease in need of surgical intervention.
  • Plan advanced therapy/procedure for companion animal cancer patients including decision on the surgical dose in relation to specific neoplasias.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal cancer surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and laypersons involved in companion animal surgical cancer patient management.

Updated literature lists will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.
A mixture of case-based and problem-oriented lectures, e-learning, theoretical, and practical exercises. Case-study work. Scientific literature searching.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 83
  • Practical exercises
  • 15
  • Exam
  • 50
  • Total
  • 168
Written
Oral
Credit
1,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Type of assessment details
The Ongoing Test consist of three parts:
a) a minimum of 80% active participation,
b) preparation and oral presentation of a problem oriented clinical case
c) a written assignment.

To pass the course, students must have passed both Exam 1 and Exam 2. However, students may attend Exam 2 without having passed Exam 1.
Aid
All aids allowed except Generative AI

The use of AI or AI-assisted tools is prohibited for this exam.

Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner.
Exam period

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Re-exam

The exam form for the reexam is the same as the ordinary exam.

 

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the grade passed, the student shall be able to:
 

Knowledge

  • Understand the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical appearance of neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on surgical intervention.
  • Understand the influence of surgical neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients on the selection of anesthesia and pain alleviation.
  • Use and continue to develop common and typical surgical techniques in the treatment of neoplastic disease in companion animal patients with a focus on acute symptom relief.
  • Explain, reflect on, and discuss a problem-oriented and evidence-based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with surgical neoplastic disease.
  • Define and identify relevant anatomical structures.
     

Skills

  • Perform atraumatic surgical techniques in particular with regards to tissue handling and minimally invasive diagnostics in regard to companion animal neoplastic disorders including fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, mastocytoma, oral and laryngeal cancers, respiratory cancers, gastro-intestinal and pancreatic cancer, hepatic and biliary cancer, and urological cancers.
  • Evaluate, plan, and perform reconstructive surgery used for cancer patients.
  • Assess companion animal cancer patients perioperatively with a focus on treatment effect, complications, and prognosis, including adjuvant therapy.
     

Competences

  • Evaluate, plan, and manage a diagnostic work-up for a companion animal patient with neoplastic disease in need of surgical intervention.
  • Plan advanced therapy/procedure for companion animal cancer patients including decision of the surgical dose in relation to specific neoplasias.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal cancer surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and laypersons involved in companion animal surgical cancer patient management.

 

Credit
4,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
The written assignment includes an exam with multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions.

To pass the course, students must have passed both Exam 1 and Exam 2. However, students may attend Exam 2 without having passed Exam 1.
Aid
All aids allowed except Generative AI

The use of AI or AI-assisted tools is prohibited for this exam.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Re-exam

The exam form for the reexam is the same as the ordinary exam.

 

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade 12, the student shall be able to:
 

Knowledge

  • Understand the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical appearance of neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on surgical intervention.
  • Understand the influence of surgical neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients on the selection of anesthesia and pain alleviation.
  • Use and continue to develop common and typical surgical techniques in the treatment of neoplastic disease in companion animal patients with a focus on acute symptom relief.
  • Explain, reflect on, and discuss a problem-oriented and evidence-based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with surgical neoplastic disease.
  • Define and identify relevant anatomical structures.
     

Skills

  • Perform atraumatic surgical techniques in particular with regards to tissue handling and minimally invasive diagnostics in regard to companion animal neoplastic disorders including fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, mastocytoma, oral and laryngeal cancers, respiratory cancers, gastro-intestinal and pancreatic cancer, hepatic and biliary cancer, and urological cancers.
  • Evaluate, plan, and perform reconstructive surgery used for cancer patients.
  • Assess companion animal cancer patients perioperatively with a focus on treatment effect, complications, and prognosis, including adjuvant therapy.
     

Competences

  • Evaluate, plan, and manage a diagnostic work-up for a companion animal patient with neoplastic disease in need of surgical intervention.
  • Plan advanced therapy/procedure for companion animal cancer patients including decision on the surgical dose in relation to specific neoplasias.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal cancer surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and laypersons involved in companion animal surgical cancer patient management.