Analysis of the effectiveness of various methods of treating fibrosarcoma in cats using the example of four protocols - irso. Sarcoma - we are talking about a malignant tumor in cats What is synovial tissue

An accurate diagnosis and prognosis for treatment can only be made by a qualified specialist who will conduct a comprehensive study of the cat’s condition. First of all, it is important to examine the animal and palpate visible tumors. If they are located on the paws, they can compress the cat’s lymph nodes, making it difficult for him to move. In general, touching them causes pain, so the cat may behave aggressively and try to interfere with the diagnostic procedure.

After an external examination, it is necessary to perform a biopsy, as well as histological and cytological examination. Their results will show the doctor the clinical picture, as well as whether the tumor is malignant or benign. This will help formulate the final therapeutic regimen and methods of medical intervention for the meowing patient.

Clinical manifestations

All tumors have common manifestations, which serve as a good reason to contact a veterinarian.

• Lameness is often one of the first signs of an illness, but it is often misinterpreted by specialists and the animal can take a long time to be treated for arthritis. Over time, the limp gets worse.
• The presence of a tumor-like formation - located depending on the damaged tissues, tends to significantly increase in size in a short time.
• Habitual fracture - usually occurs at the site of tumor formation.
• Anorexia - at first there may simply be a loss of appetite, but as the disease progresses, the pet begins to completely refuse food.
• Apathy - the cat becomes lethargic, stops playing, and spends more and more time half asleep.
• Severe pain - the animal constantly rushes about, meows, stops sleeping and even resting. If you don’t give your pet painkillers at this stage, he may simply die from painful shock.

Is it necessary to treat fibrosarcoma and how to do it?

How to treat this type of oncology? Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have always been the most powerful and effective methods, but recently practice has proven the opposite. In veterinary medicine, the best method at the moment is surgical removal of the tumor. Therefore, it is better to remove the tumor and remove its remains using chemotherapy.

The most effective treatment for fibrosarcoma is to remove it through surgery.

How chemotherapy works in cats with cancer

Chemotherapy involves the use of certain drugs to stop the growth of the tumor and prevent further spread of tumors throughout the body.

If the pet has diseases related to the kidneys, heart or liver, some complications may arise during therapy, in which case serious correction is carried out.

It happens that fibrosarcoma first grows, but soon stops and no longer grows. The lifespan of a cat with fibrosarkioma can last until old age, but if the growth of the tumor moves sharply, the animal will not live even 6 months.

Important! After completion of the operation, the neck collar, fixing bandages and pom-poms should not be removed. This is necessary so that the cat cannot lick the wound and introduce pathogenic microorganisms into it.

The cat should not be allowed out for walks for two weeks; however, its behavior must be carefully monitored so that if the postoperative suture becomes swollen, bleeding, or inflamed, immediately contact a veterinarian.

The prognosis directly depends on the age of the animal, the presence of concomitant diseases and, most importantly, the stage of the disease when visiting a doctor. Naturally, the sooner fibrosarcoma is detected and treatment begins, the greater the chances of a positive outcome.

After surgery, the cat needs special care.

To prevent your pet from developing cancer, the necessary vaccinations should be carried out in a timely manner. However, if the cat could not be protected from the disease, at the first symptom you need to seek help from a highly qualified veterinarian. In this case, the life of your beloved pet will be saved for many years.

Therapy

It is, of course, up to the owner to decide whether to treat or not, because there is no conservative method of getting rid of cancer. Unfortunately, some owners find it easier to euthanize the animal rather than spend money on surgery and further chemotherapy, despite the fact that the further prognosis has a significant threat of relapse.

Standard therapeutic measures for fibrosarcoma in cats are:

• irradiation;
• chemistry - Adriamycin is used.

Although recently, doctors are increasingly witnessing that these methods are ineffective in the case of fibrosarcoma. Surgical intervention will be more effective, followed by the above-mentioned therapeutic procedures.

Chemotherapy will help get rid of the remnants of the removed tumor, but not the entire tumor.

Radiation therapy also more often leads to short-term remission if surgery is not performed.

Dormant sarcoma is a poorly studied and rare phenomenon. No competent veterinarian can predict the period of sleep in such situations, because there are too many factors influencing tumor growth, and most of them are unknown.

A gentle treatment method practiced by some veterinary surgeons: large vessels that lead to the tumor are cut. It is relevant only in the case of a small “dormant” sarcoma. Often this really helps, but one way or another, it is necessary to carefully monitor the animal’s condition. A dying formation without recharge, which it was deprived of by this procedure, can provoke:

• sepsis;
• development of metastases;
• necrosis of a large area of ​​skin.

Under no circumstances remove the fixing bandages from the animal after surgery. Collars and blankets prevent scratching and licking of wounds. Otherwise, suppuration may occur. The pet needs special care and clean sleeping conditions. You will have to give up walking during your recovery.

If you notice inflammation, swelling, bleeding or other suspicious phenomena on the suture, contact your doctor immediately.

With cancer there is no term “recovered”, only long-term remission.

How is sarcoma diagnosed in cats?

Initially, the words of the owner of the sick animal are used for diagnosis, so he must give as much information as possible. After this, a biochemical blood test will be taken from the animal, but a blood biopsy will also be performed to confirm the diagnosis. It is the microscopic examination of the neoplasm tissue that will determine its nature and give an approximate prognosis for the future fate of the pet.

An x-ray is required, as it allows one to determine the degree of penetration of the tumor into nearby tissues and the possibility of using surgical excision to remove it. For example, if the sarcoma of the eye has not yet deepened much, the cat will have one eye removed. On the one hand, this is not a very cheerful forecast, but it is better to let the animal live, albeit with one eye. As an additional test, your veterinarian may test fluids taken from tumors or other infected tissues or organs.

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Treatment

The main treatment method for cats with osteosarcoma is surgery. It can be either organ-preserving or combined with chemotherapy.

Previously, only amputation was used to save the life of an animal. The development of veterinary practice has allowed surgeons to preserve organs as much as possible, improving the pet’s quality of life. However, when only part of the bone is removed, there is a possibility of recurrence of the tumor process.

One of the methods is resection of part of the bone and installation of the Elizarov apparatus. This technique allows you to completely preserve the limb and its functions. Also, the bone defect can be replaced with a plate, bone cement and transplantation of a donor organ or implant.

In advanced cases with a large lesion, amputation is the only solution. In this case, it is recommended to prescribe donor bone marrow transfusion and chemotherapy.

In cats, the disease is less aggressive, so often with complete amputation and removal of tumor cells in full, chemotherapy is not required.

For chemotherapy, cisplatin is used, which is administered 4 times with an interval of 3 weeks between administrations.

To monitor relapse and metastases, control X-rays of the damaged part and chest are prescribed every three months.

Prognosis for fibrosarcoma in cats

The prognosis of this disease may vary depending on the location of the tumor, the degree of growth of the tumor into surrounding tissues and organs and further post-surgical treatment, as well as on how the patient tolerates all the necessary manipulations.

The prognosis for malignant tumors is always cautious, especially before the results of histology, but it can be influenced at an early stage of contacting the clinic. The smaller the formation at the time of examination and surgery, the easier it is to remove it, as long as there are no adhesions with surrounding organs and tissues.

Also, after surgery, it is necessary to take care of the postoperative wound and sutures.

Sutures are processed within 2-3 weeks after surgical treatment.

It is necessary to protect the seams from licking and scratching.

It is also necessary to take anti-inflammatory, painkillers and antibacterial drugs according to the prescribed regimen.

After 2-3 weeks, the sutures are removed.

Basic information

This is a tumor that develops from fibroblasts of the skin and subcutaneous connective tissue. They have a predisposition to local relapses, but metastases are rare. Unlike sarcomas (a related type of neoplasm), fibrosarcomas do not grow so aggressively; affected animals have a much better chance of recovery. The causes are not completely clear (as with any other type of cancer). The emergence of oncology can be viewed from the point of view of the confluence of several unfortunate factors. Scientists believe that in cats specifically, cancer often develops as a result of the action of oncogenic viruses, many of which are present in the animal’s body initially and can be inherited. The mortality rate from fibrosarcomas in cats reaches 5-20%, depending on age and medical care.

Feline sarcoma retroviruses (recombinant forms of feline leukemia virus - FeLV) are very dangerous, as they are responsible for the occurrence of fibrosarcoma in young cats and “stimulate” the appearance of multiple tumors in animals over five years of age. The virus destroys the genome and causes chromosomal changes. Oddly enough, in some cases a person may be to blame.

Sometimes tumors develop at vaccination sites, and information about this began to appear in the late 1990s. Veterinarians and biologists then conducted many studies, but not a single virus was identified. It was then that the assumption arose that in some cases, certain preservatives from vaccines, which have a negative effect on animals susceptible to them, could contribute to the appearance of cancer. However, the British do not consider this version correct. They are of the opinion that in most cases the same feline papilloma virus is to blame.

However, fibrosarcoma is the most common type of cancer in cats. New growths behave differently: in some cases, the tumor can remain stable for years, but more often they begin to grow quite quickly. Primary tumors in many cases are found on the ears, behind the shoulder blades, and on the paws (shown in the photo). This, by the way, indirectly confirms the theory of “vaccine” origin, since injections are most often placed under the shoulder blade. How can you tell if something is seriously wrong with your cat?

SUMMARY

A.L. Kuznetsova, M.V. Rodionov, M.A. Shindina, A.A. Shimshirt, M.N. Yakunina, S.V. Sedov, E.A. Chubarova, V.O. Polimatidi, J.V. Krivova.

Analysis of the Efficacy of Four Treatment Protocols for Fibrosarcoma in Cats. Fibrosarcoma is one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas in cats and accounts up to 71% of all tumors of that origin. The postsurgical recurrence rate occurs in up to 64 cases. The present study provides evidence that the preoperative radiosensitizing chemotherapy with Carboplatin doubles overall and relapse free survival intervals in cats with primary non-resectable fibrosarcoma. The method can be used in combination with surgery in cats with locally advanced tumors.

Key words: feline fibrosarcomas, radiosensitizing chemotherapy, radiotherapy

Preventive measures

There are no specific preventive measures. The only thing that can be recommended to owners is to limit exposure to carcinogenic substances as much as possible. Also, do not forget about strengthening your immune system. Currently, stores sell a variety of vitamins and complex supplements that will help your pet’s diet become complete. You should not refuse vaccination, because injections can be given intramuscularly.

It is important to understand that sarcoma cannot be treated at home. Moreover, there are no effective folk methods to combat it.

The owner will only lose precious time, but will not save the life of his pet.

Diagnostics

Well, the most obvious manifestation of this disease is a tumor. Fibrosarcoma is a rather aggressive formation, so that when it is palpated, the animal experiences pain. Again, unlike sarcomas, ulcers and non-healing fistulas in their place are much less common (although this also happens). As we said, this type of cancer rarely metastasizes, but locally it grows quickly, and often even deep-lying tissues are affected. Thus, fibrosarcomas on the leg often lead to ugly swelling of the limb. This happens due to compression of the lymphatic vessels and ducts. In some cases, inflammation of those lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) that are located closest to the tumor itself may occur.

An accurate diagnosis can only be made in a clinical setting. The specialist will take a sample from the affected area (biopsy) and conduct a cytological and histological examination of it. Under a microscope, you can only determine that a tumor is cancer, but you won’t be able to find out about its specific species.

It is very important to examine the edges of healthy and diseased tissue, since their condition depends on the prognosis. If the border between the tumor and normal skin is more or less visible, then there is hope for recovery

Otherwise, the chances are much less.

Causes

Experts are still arguing about what causes this type of tumor in a cat. The most likely factors include:

1. Cheap food of low quality.
2. Burdened heredity.
3. Contaminated drinking water.
4. Poor environmental conditions.

Studies have shown that a significant contribution to the occurrence of this type of neoplasm is made by various viruses with oncogenic etiology, which are inherited by the kitten from its parents. Also, if an animal at a young age was attacked by recombinant forms of feline leukemia bacteria, then over time this can provoke a similar tumor.

Veterinarians have discovered that soft tissue fibrosarcoma manifests itself when the process of fibroblast division is disrupted, and on bones it occurs due to severe bruises, fractures or complete amputation of a cat’s limb. Sometimes the factor that provokes neoplasm is the intravenous administration of oil-based vaccines and injections into the pet’s body. This happens for the reason that some cats are intolerant to certain preservatives that make up medications.

Diagnostics

Due to the similarity of osteosarcoma with other diseases of the skeletal system (arthritis and arthrosis, osteomyelitis, metastases from other tumors), diagnosing the disease is difficult. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination of the patient to identify not only the primary tumor, but also the stage of its development and the presence of complications.

One of the first diagnostic methods for damage to the skeletal system is radiography. It helps to determine the focus, as well as possible metastases and fractures. It is necessary to take photographs in several projections for a detailed examination of the lesion and the exact location of its location.

One of the characteristic signs of osteosarcoma is the appearance of a Codman triangle on an x-ray - the formation of new bone at the border with the tumor.

A chest x-ray is required to detect metastases in the lungs.

To make an accurate diagnosis, a biopsy of the affected area is taken. The main thing in collecting material is to determine the central focus, since cells from the periphery of the tumor show only reactive inflammatory reactions.

If the picture is unclear and the clinic is well equipped, a bone scan can be performed, which can detect cancer in the early stages. However, suspicion of osteosarcoma must be confirmed early and histologically, since the site of a healed fracture may be extremely similar to a neoplasm.

To detect metastases, an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, thyroid gland and pelvic organs is performed.

To exclude the diagnosis of osteomyelitis, it is enough to check a general blood test for the presence of inflammation.

Symptoms of the disease

The symptoms of fibrosarcoma are fairly easy to detect, especially if the owner examines their pet regularly. In appearance, they look like nodular formations, reaching a diameter of 1 mm to 15 cm. Their shape is most often irregular or round with a smooth surface. If the tumors are not treated with treatment, they gradually grow, thereby disfiguring the pet.

Experts have identified the following main signs of this tumor in a cat:

• seals appear under the skin;
• the animal loses coordination, its gait becomes unstable;
• severe swelling is visible at the site of fibrosarcoma;
• When palpating the affected area, the cat experiences pain.

The neoplasms in question prefer this localization on the cat’s body:

• withers;
• in the ear area;
• on the chest and sides of the pet;
• on the limbs and belly;
• in the mouth and on the cheeks.

From experience, veterinarians know that the growth of fibrosarcoma depends entirely on the age and current general condition of the pet. So in some cats they are present for years, without growing in any way and without affecting their quality of life, while in others they progress quickly and rapidly, up to the release of metastases. In the latter case, the pet can live for a maximum of 2-3 weeks without surgical treatment. Owners often confuse this tumor with a cyst, so at the first symptoms you need to take the cat for examination to a doctor.

Results and discussion

It has been shown that in cats, fibrosarcoma is one of the most common tumors belonging to the group of soft tissue sarcomas, accounting for up to 71.3%. A completely opposite situation was observed in dogs, where fibrosarcoma accounts for no more than 29.5% of cases.

When calculating the total number of morphologically confirmed fibrosarcomas in cats, a persistent trend of annual increase in registered cases of the disease was revealed. From 2001 to 2014, according to the Biocontrol clinic, quantitative indicators increased more than 10 times

This trend can be explained by an increase in the number of vaccinated animals, as well as the general flow of patients in the clinic (from 2001 to 2014, their number increased 2.5 times), the expansion of possibilities for diagnosing and treating oncological pathologies in animals, and the increase in the general standard of living in Moscow and the Moscow region. region, which entailed an increase in the total number of pets, as well as the ability of owners to carry out long-term and expensive treatment.

In group 1, large (diameter from 3 to 7 cm) soft tissue formations were subjected to wide resection. In the postoperative period, relapses were noted in 64.7% of cases. BP was 256 ± 57, lifespan reached 546 ± 241 days. In many ways, such a high percentage of relapses is associated with the large size of the primary lesion, as well as with the adhesion of the tumor to the underlying tissues.

In group 2, animals with voluminous (diameter of at least 5 cm) tumor formations of soft tissues that were immobile or had limited mobility relative to the underlying tissues were subjected to preoperative gamma radiation therapy. In 3 patients, tumor invasion into the spinous processes of the vertebrae of the thoracic spine was detected. Radiation therapy was carried out according to the scheme described above. Partial regression with resectability was achieved in 11 cats, accounting for 68.75% of the total number of patients in the group. Stabilization of tumor growth was observed in 5 animals (31.25%). 14 days after the end of the course of radiation therapy, cats with partial regression underwent wide surgical resection of the tumor. The relapse rate in group 2 was 72.7%, PD and LOS reached 186 ± 33 and 196 ± 32 days, respectively.

In the 3rd group, in the preoperative period, patients were prescribed chemoradiotherapy according to the above-described regimen. At the same time, tumors reached a resectable state in 12 cats, which amounted to 85.7% of the total number of animals in the group. 2 weeks after the end of the course of chemoradiotherapy, 12 animals underwent wide excision of the tumor. As a result, in the postoperative period, recurrence was noted in 75% of cases. The indicators of PD and life expectancy were 2 times higher compared to the indicators obtained in group 2 and amounted to 386 ± 101 and 398 ± 100 days, respectively (Fisher’s significance test p<0,05).

In the 4th group, radiation therapy was performed on animals in the early postoperative period (starting from 3…5 days after surgery). The fractionation regimen and dosage were described above. BP and LOS indicators were 96 ± 25 and 117 ± 27 days, respectively.

Treatment

If the tumor is detected at an early stage, treatment may be successful. The main method of combating such a tumor is radical surgery. This term means that in addition to the tumor itself, the doctor must remove:

• 3-5 cm of visually healthy tissue around;
• and at least one muscular fascia in the space under the tumor.

Even if the tumor is small, the scope of the operation with this approach is impressive. If the sarcoma is already the size of a fist or more, the intervention becomes frighteningly traumatic. Often the surgeon is forced to remove part or all of the scapula and saw the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae. Sometimes an animal loses a limb.

The veterinarian must convince the owners of the need for a radical operation, and master the basics of reconstructive surgery - plastic surgery - in order to close the huge defect after tumor removal.

This uncompromising approach is due to the fact that post-vaccination sarcoma recurs - it produces repeated, even more aggressive growth at the site of removal. It almost does not metastasize to other organs (unlike breast cancer, which affects lung tissue), but it is almost impossible to prevent relapse after surgery. Correct wide excision stops the process, allowing you to forget about the problem for a year and a half. But the average lifespan of cats after a diagnosis of post-injection sarcoma is only 2-3 years.

• The best results are obtained by a combination of surgery and radiation therapy, but only a few veterinary clinics have such capabilities.
• Chemotherapy is used less often - mainly to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery.

What is sarcoma

Sarcoma refers to a whole group of diseases that are divided according to the type of tissue affected. The danger of cancer is its tendency to metastasize and the ability to quickly spread throughout the body.

Sarcoma is divided into 2 large groups - hard and soft tissues. Further classification proceeds according to more specific parameters.

• Osteosarcoma is a lesion of bone tissue.
• Fibrosarcoma is a cancer of fibrous tissue.
• Post-injection – occurs in the withers area after subcutaneous vaccinations.
• Liposarcoma is a lesion of adipose tissue.
• Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cancer of the striated muscle.

The most common is osteosarcoma; of all the tumors found, it occurs in 80 percent of cases. The disease is extremely dangerous for cats, as it tends to metastasize, affecting the lymph nodes and other organs of the animal.

Stages of cancer development

There are 4 degrees of cancer, which are important for creating a favorable prognosis.

1st degree– no clinical manifestations, tumor is less than 5 cm, has clear boundaries, no metastases. The most favorable stage for treatment and survival of the cat.

2nd degree– the tumor is more than 5 cm, has no clear boundaries, and grows rapidly. No metastasis yet.

3rd degree– at this stage, metastases appear in the lymph nodes close to the tumor.

4th degree – metastases appear in distant organs. It has an unfavorable prognosis; all medical procedures performed are aimed at alleviating the suffering of the sick animal. Most often, the pet is euthanized.

Diagnostics

The disease is quite easy to detect, given that its primary symptom is a tumor.

Since fibrosarcoma is an aggressive neoplasm, the pet experiences pain during palpation. It was already mentioned earlier that this type of disease rarely metastasizes, but grows quickly, affecting even deep tissues. If the tumor occurs on a limb, which also happens if the disease is hereditary, the paw may swell to such a state that it will be painful for the cat to stand on it. Lymphatic ducts and vessels are affected, and sometimes even inflammation of the nodes located next to the tumor is observed - lymphadenitis.

Only a veterinarian in a clinical setting can determine an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. The veterinary clinic will take a tissue biopsy of the affected area and conduct a cytological examination to determine the nature of the formation. In this way, not only cancer is diagnosed, but also its type is determined.

It is important to conduct studies of peri-tumor tissues. If the boundaries between healthy and diseased cells are not visible, then the animal has a chance of recovery

Clinical signs and diagnosis

Post-vaccination sarcoma is a very characteristic tumor that an experienced veterinarian should suspect without additional research after examination.

1. The fact of vaccination or other injections is that a tumor can appear both several months and several years after vaccination.
2. It is located in the place where the injection was made (most often - the withers, between the shoulder blades, less often - the thigh).
3. Post-vaccination sarcoma does not occur in very young or old individuals; its average age is from 6 to 11 years.
4. The tumor is dense, painless on palpation, with clear boundaries.
5. Sudden rapid growth.

Often, owners are aware of the presence of a tiny, dense nodule on a cat's withers, but are unaware of the need to see a doctor. Then this formation begins to grow so quickly that the veterinarian already sees a huge mass that rises above the shoulder blades, like a hump. Along with the size of the tumor, the volume of surgical intervention increases and the prognosis worsens. Sarcoma reaches a diameter of several centimeters in just a few weeks.

Cytology (the study of tumor cells under a microscope) is used to confirm the diagnosis. The material is taken without anesthesia using a regular syringe. If you need to clarify the size of the tumor and its location, a computed tomography or x-ray is done. The pictures show whether the bones (spine, shoulder blades) are involved in the tumor process.

Before starting treatment, you will need studies of the whole body:

• ECHO of the heart;
• X-rays of light;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
• clinical and biochemical blood tests;
• as well as other tests that the attending physician deems necessary.

Materials and methods

The study included 57 cats of different breeds, aged from 5 to 16 years, with morphologically confirmed fibrosarcoma. The animals were divided into 4 groups: patients of group 1 (n=14) were prescribed surgical treatment; cats of group 2 (n=16) - preoperative radiation therapy was added to the protocol; animals of group 3 (n=14) received preoperative chemoradiotherapy; patients of group 4 (n=13) received postoperative radiation therapy. The ratio of males to females in the studied groups was approximately 1:1. The tumors were localized in the area of ​​the soft tissues of the withers, lateral surfaces of the chest and abdominal walls. All animals were subjected to a full examination according to the scheme described above before the appointment of therapeutic manipulations.

The possibility of surgical intervention was assessed based on criteria such as tumor volume and mobility, and the possibility of suturing the surgical wound. All operations were performed in accordance with the rules of ablastics and antiblastics. Tumors subjected to preoperative radiation or chemoradiotherapy were considered unresectable or conditionally resectable at the time of the initial examination (that is, the rules of ablastics and antiblastics cannot be fully observed).

For radiation therapy, the gamma-therapeutic device “AGAT-R” was used, with the inclusion of the primary tumor and a safety zone (3 cm) in the dose field; irradiated from two rectangular fields at angles, RIP 70 cm, ROD 5.0 ​​Gy, in hypofractionation mode (1 fraction per day, 2 fractions per week), up to SOD 24...45 Gy (depending on the treatment protocol). Carboplatin (CDDP) was used as a radiosensitizer at a calculated dose of 50 mg/m2 of body surface. The drug was administered to a hydrated animal as a drip infusion in 0.9% NaCl 40 minutes before radiation exposure. Radiation and chemoradiotherapy were administered to anesthetized animals. Propofol was used for general anesthesia.

The therapeutic effect was assessed based on data from a clinical examination of the primary tumor site (changes in tumor size and mobility, severity of the inflammatory component, etc.). Radiation therapy in the postoperative period was prescribed to animals in morphologically confirmed cases of tumor cell contamination of the resection margins.

A retrospective analysis of medical histories of cats and dogs that underwent surgical intervention at the Biocontrol clinic for soft tissue sarcomas of various histogenesis in the period from 2001 to 2014 was carried out, followed by determination of the percentage of fibrosarcomas to the total number of soft tissue sarcomas in cats, as well as the number animals with fibrosarcoma in a given period of time.

Therapeutic measures

It should be noted that in cases where sarcoma has affected the bone of any limb, the only truly reliable treatment is amputation, and urgent one. This is due to the already mentioned tendency of this type of tumor to spread quickly. Of course, neither in this nor in other cases can one do without powerful chemotherapy. Pain medication will also be prescribed and administered as needed. Accordingly, the “treatment” of sarcoma with folk remedies is nothing more than a myth and self-deception.

With 100% probability, you yourself will not cure a cat from such a disease, but will only hasten the moment of its painful end. Don’t do who knows what, but immediately take your pet to the clinic! We also hasten to refute a stupid myth: Feline sarcoma is NOT transmitted to humans under any circumstances.. It's not scabies, after all!

Diagnosis and treatment of fibrosarcoma in cats

The diagnosis of fibrosarcoma is made on the basis of medical history and the results of serological studies. Blood and urine are taken for analysis.

It is important to establish the root cause that led to the development of this pathology by finding out what infections and chronic diseases were previously diagnosed in the cat.

In addition, a test for feline leukemia, biopsy, cytological, and histological examination are performed. The edges of affected, healthy tissues are examined.

Treatment methods are selected by a veterinarian based on the diagnostic results obtained. In most cases, surgery is required. Veterinarians perform resection of tumors. If the pathological neoplasm cannot be removed surgically, radiation therapy and sensitizing chemotherapy are used.

A positive result in treatment is achieved by the use of surgical excision of fibrosarcoma in combination with radiation therapy. If only radiation therapy is prescribed, such a treatment method will only lead to short-term remission.

The prognosis for the treatment of fibrosarcoma in cats is cautious, since the animal’s recovery depends on the stage, the intensity of progression of the tumor process, the presence of metastases, and the localization of tumors.

After the operation, cat owners and breeders must carefully monitor the condition of the animal. To prevent the cat from injuring the operated area, it is worth wearing blankets that secure sterile bandages and a protective collar. In this way, infection of the wound by pathogenic microorganisms can be avoided.

For a month after surgery, cats are recommended to be kept in clean rooms and not allowed to go for walks. If the postoperative suture is inflamed, very red, exudate is flowing from the wound, blood is oozing, you urgently need to contact the treating veterinarian.

Considering that the etiology of this disease is the feline leukemia virus, preventive vaccinations should not be neglected, even if the pet does not leave the house or apartment.

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Diagnosis of fibrosarcoma

The main manifestation of cancer is a tumor, and since this disease is aggressive, the cat experiences severe pain when palpated. Fibrosarcomas located on the animal's paws swell and the limb becomes ugly. Since the lymphatic vessels along with the tributaries are pinched, it is difficult for the animal to move.

To make a correct diagnosis, a clinical picture is necessary. For this, a biopsy is performed, as well as cytological and histological examination. It is impossible to recognize what type of cancer has affected an animal under a microscope; it is only possible to understand that the neoplasm is malignant.

Treatment

Most cancers are difficult to treat. The fact is that tumors are affected by strong chemicals, which significantly worsen the general condition of the animal. In some cases (with stage four sarcoma), doctors frankly tell the owners that the treatment will not bring the desired effect, so it is recommended to euthanize the animal. With this development, this is the only humane way that will free your pet from suffering.

Sarcoma in cats can also be treated surgically. However, this method is only possible if the formation has not had time to metastasize.

It is worth noting that in the initial stages, properly selected drug therapy and surgical intervention give a positive result. . If a single type of formation is detected, it is recommended to remove it

All affected areas are also excised. If the tumor appears on the paw, the limb is amputated.

If a single type formation is detected, it is recommended to remove it. All affected areas are also excised. If the tumor appears on the paw, the limb is amputated.

A doctor may also diagnose an unresectable sarcoma in a cat. In this case, the animal is prescribed a course of chemotherapy.

It is worth noting that surgical intervention will significantly worsen the animal’s quality of life, but will save it. This is the only way to completely defeat cancer in the early stages. As for chemotherapy, everything will depend on the overall health of the pet. Young individuals, although it is difficult, still tolerate such treatment. But cats that are more than 10 years old rarely survive.

Stages

Like any cancer, sarcoma in cats has four stages of development. They directly influence the choice of treatment and prognosis:

• First stage. The disease occurs without symptoms. It is already possible to palpate the formations, but they are quite small in size - up to 5 cm. The tumors have clear boundaries. Metastases have not yet formed. When the disease is diagnosed at this stage, most animals have a good chance of recovery. Veterinarians believe that the tumor will respond well to treatment.
• Second stage. Tumors (bumps) on a cat’s stomach or anywhere else reach sizes of more than five centimeters. They lose clarity of boundaries. There is a tendency to rapidly increase, but metastases have not yet formed.
• Third stage. It differs from the first two in that adjacent lymph nodes are affected by metastases.
• The fourth stage is the last and most dangerous. With it, metastases have already spread to all organs. Therapy is selected in such a way as to simply alleviate the cat’s condition. The prognosis is unfavorable. If the disease is diagnosed at this stage, it is recommended to euthanize the animal, since the chances of recovery are zero.

B i b l i o g r a p h i a

1. Сouto, S.S. Feline Vaccine-associated Fibrosarcoma: Morphologic Distinctions / S.S. Сouto, S.M. Griffey, P.C. Duarte, B.R. Madewell // Vet Pathol. - 2002. - N. 39. - P. 33–41.
2. Day, M.J. A kinetic study of histopathological changes in the subcutis of cats injected with nonadjuvanted and adjuvanted multi-component vaccines / M.J. Day, H.A. Schoon, J.P. Magnol, J. Saik, P. Devauchelle, U. Truyen, et al. // Vaccine. - 2007. - N. 25. - P. 4073–4084.
3. Eckstein, C. A retrospective analysis of radiation therapy for the treatment of feline vaccine-associated sarcoma. / C. Eckstein, F. Guscetti, M. Roos, J. Martin de las Mulas, B. Kaser-Hotz and C. Rohrer Bley // Vet Comp Oncol. - 2009. - N. 7. - P. 54–68.
4. Gobar, G.M. World wide webbased survey of vaccination practices, postvaccinal reactions, and vaccine site-associated sarcomas in cats / G.M. Gobar and P.H. Kass // J Am Vet Med Assoc. - 2002. - N. 220. - P. 1477–1482.
5. Hendrick, M.J. Comparison of fibrosarcomas that developed at vaccination sites and non-vaccination sites in cats: 239 cases (1991–1992) / M.J. Hendrick, F.S. Shofer,
M.H. Goldschmidt, J. Saik, P. Devauchelle, U. Truyen, et al. // J Am Vet Med Assoc. -
1994. - N. 205. - P. 1425–1429.
6. Hendrick, M.J. Post vaccine sarcomas in the cat: epidemiology and electron probe microanalytical identification of aluminum. / M.J. Hendrick, M.H. Goldschmidt, F. Shofer, Y.Y. Wang and A.P. Somlyo // Cancer Res. - 1992. - N. 52. - P. 5391–5394.
7. Kass, H.K. Multicenter casecontrol study of risk factors associated with development of vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats. /H.K. Kass, W. L. Spangler, M.J. Hendrick, L.D. McGill, D.G. Esplin, S. Lester, et al. // J Am Vet Med Assoc. - 2003. - N. 223. - P. 1283–1292.
8. Kass, P.H. Epidemiological evidence for a causal relation between vaccination and fibrosarcoma tumorigenesis in cats. /P.H. Kass, W. G. Jr. Barnes, W.L. Spangler, B.B. Chomel and M.R. Culbertson // J Am Vet Med Assoc. - 1993. - N. 203. - P. 396–405.
9. Ladlow, J. Injection Site-Associated Sarcoma in the Cat: Treatment recommendations and results to date / J. Ladlow // Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2013. - N. 15. - P. 409.
10. Lester, S. Vaccine site-associated sarcomas in cats: clinical experience and a laboratory review (1982–1993) / S. Lester and T. Clemett // J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. - 1996. - N. 32. - P. 91–95.
11. Lisitskaya, K.V. Preoperative radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy with carboplatin for feline vaccine-associated sarcomas / K.V. Lisitskaya, M.N. Yakunina, S.V. Sedov // Abstracts of the annual congress of the European Association of Veterinary Oncologists, 2013. - P. 94.
12. Romanelli, G. Analysis of prognostic factors associated with injection-site sarcomas in cats: 57 cases (2001–2007) / G. Romanelli, L. Marconato, D. Olivero, F. Massari and E. Zini // J Am Vet Med Assoc. - 2008. - N. 232. - P. 1193–1199.
13. Withrow, S.J. Small Animal Clinical Oncology 5E / S.J. Withrow, D.M. Vail. - Rodney, 2013. - pp. 492.

Diagnosis of fibrosarcoma in a cat

Diagnosis of any formations on the body is very important before deciding what can be done about it next and how to behave correctly with the formation so as not to waste time.

This is especially important for fast-growing and malignant tumors. Therefore, if you notice a formation on your cat’s body, you must immediately contact the clinic to diagnose it.

After examining the patient, the doctor will decide what manipulations need to be performed.

Manipulations necessary to diagnose formation:

• First of all, you need to conduct an X-ray examination of the chest to exclude metastases;
• Next, material is collected to diagnose the formation (the formation is punctured and the tumor is interpreted using cytological analysis);
• after the result obtained, the doctor decides what method should be used to treat the patient (this can be surgical removal of the tumor, and then only control, or additional manipulations are carried out if the tumor is prone to metastasis);
• after removal of the tumor, part of it is submitted for additional research to clarify the diagnosis;
• After the result is ready, further manipulations and prospects are discussed.

Treatment of sarcoma

The treatment method and its success largely depend on the type of tumor:

Clinical manifestations

It is useful for all owners to know how sarcoma manifests itself in cats. This will help detect the disease at an early stage. The main thing, even at the slightest suspicion, is to immediately contact a veterinary clinic for an examination.

So, let's look at the signs of sarcoma:

• Problems with movement, often lameness.
• Decreased activity.
• The appearance of tumors, after a certain time they increase.
• Fracture of limbs.
• Decreased appetite or complete refusal to eat, resulting in anorexia.
• Severe painful spasms, due to which the animal’s behavior radically changes. It is imperative to take painkillers, as the pet may die from pain shock.

Causes

Modern science has not found out the exact cause of the appearance of malignant cells. At the moment, there are only a number of factors and assumptions that can affect the development of a tumor or predisposition to it.

One of the most likely causes of the development of osteosarcoma is frequent bone injuries; the risk especially increases with constant damage to the same section. There are also cases of the development of the disease at the site of attachment of implants during the reposition of fractures.

The most predisposed to the formation of bone tumors are cats of short-haired breeds, as well as individuals older than 7 years.

Despite the statistics on the formation of the disease after orthopedic intervention or fractures, the majority of cases of bone tumors occur for no apparent reason against the background of complete well-being.

The concept of post-vaccination complications

It is not uncommon for sarcoma to occur in cats after standard vaccinations. This type of pathology is called post-vaccination sarcoma. This disease is most common in America, since mandatory vaccination of all pets is required by law.

Sarcoma can form on a cat's withers after vaccination.

Unfortunately, scientists have not yet been able to establish the cause of the development of post-vaccination sarcoma, but there is an assumption that it is the body’s response to the inflammation present at the injection site.

Most often, the tumor appears on the cat's withers. It is clearly visible, connected to the surrounding tissues and has an irregular shape. The tumor is very hard to the touch.

Therapy and important notes

What treatment is there for this type of cancer? The standard therapeutic methods are radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, in recent years there have been many reports that it is fibrosarcomas that are difficult to respond to such methods without surgical intervention. Simply put, if the tumor can be excised, then chemotherapy will indeed help destroy its remains, but attempts to destroy it with medications have little effect on the entire tumor. Even radiation therapy for fibrosarcoma in a cat will probably only lead to a short-term remission, which without surgical intervention will not last long.

Sometimes there are cases when small sarcomas spontaneously stop developing and “fall asleep.” But it’s difficult to say how long that hibernation will last: a cat can live with the neoplasm until old age, or it can die in six months when its growth suddenly resumes. Some surgeons practice a gentle method of treating such “dormant” fibrosarcomas: they cut large vessels leading to the tumor (naturally, it should be small). This often helps, but in this case you need to carefully monitor the condition of the dying tumor in order to remove it immediately. Otherwise, the collapsing tissue can not only cause sepsis, but also contribute to the development of metastases, which fibrosarcomas practically do not produce under normal conditions.

After the operation, you will need to care for your cat. Do not remove fixing bandages, collars and blankets that prevent licking, scratching and contamination of the wound. For several weeks after surgery, it is advisable to keep the cat in the cleanest room possible, without letting it go for walks. Call your veterinarian right away if the surgical incision is swollen, inflamed, or bleeding. Remember that the term “recovery” from cancer is not very accurate. Rather, it would be fair to say “long-term remission.”

What is synovial tissue

The synovium is a layer of soft tissue lining the surfaces of joints. Its cells are distinguished by their ability to divide relatively quickly, since they simply need to change frequently in order to compensate for their natural decline. Their precursors can differentiate at an early stage: either epithelial cells (skin cells) appear from them, or they turn into fibroblasts (connective tissue). Thus, sarcoma of the paw bones in a cat has much in common with a similar skin lesion. But is synovia the only one to blame? No, because there are different types of sarcomas:

• Fibrosarcoma.

• Microsarcoma.

• Liposarcoma.

And a dozen more varieties... This kind of sarcoma is extremely aggressive and highly invasive. If a neoplasm of this type appears in the body, in at least 60% of cases it will spread further. In most cases, there are lesions of bone tissue, but there are unpleasant exceptions. This type of cancer is relatively rare in cats.

Symptoms

At the initial stages, osteosarcoma does not manifest itself either externally or clinically. At an early stage, it is possible to detect a tumor during a routine X-ray examination when visiting a veterinary clinic.

As the size of the formation increases, the following manifestations occur:

• Swelling – forms on the affected limb or skull. It is most difficult to recognize when the spine is affected. There may be slight changes in posture or detection of a protruding part when stroking. The formations become denser and increase in size over time.
• Lameness – very often appears against the background of swelling. Most often it is associated with a pain symptom when the cat tries to take care of the damaged limb. Over time it progresses.
• Pathological fractures - occur at the site of the tumor with little effort or even simply when stepping on the paw.
• At the stage of tumor disintegration, gaping wounds may appear, a sharp deterioration in health, and the detection of numerous metastases.

Metastases spread through the bloodstream and most often “settle” in the lungs, thyroid gland, prostate and mammary glands, as well as testes.

Causes of fibrosarcoma

The exact causes of any type of cancer, including fibrosarcoma, have not yet been studied, but some of them include:

There are many causes of fibrosarcoma in cats.

• bad ecology;
• poor quality feed;
• contaminated drinking water;
• heredity.

Scientists have found that the most common cause of cancer in cats is exposure to oncogenic viruses, which in turn live in the body from birth. They are inherited from a cat or cat.

If a cat was attacked by a recombinant form of feline leukemia bacteria at a young age, then after some time it may develop fibrosarcoma.

Basically, a neoplasm in soft tissues appears when the processes of fibroblast division are disrupted. On bones, it can be triggered by a fracture, a fairly severe bruise, or amputation of the paw.

In some cases, swelling may appear after intravenous injections, vaccines, or oil-based antibiotics. It has become known that vaccines contain substances that can cause a benign tumor in animals intolerant to certain preservatives. Under such circumstances, it turns from benign, with strong progression, into a malignant tumor.

Attention. In the absence of timely treatment prescribed by an experienced veterinarian, the pet's mortality rate is very high.

Treatment of the disease

It should be noted right away that there are no conservative methods of treating fibrosarcoma in cats. Of course, some owners may refer to the fact that many cats live quietly with such oncology without experiencing any particular inconvenience, which means why risk the cat’s health by placing it on the operating table or irradiating it? This is true, but the risk that the tumor will become malignant over time is too great.

Therefore, doctors advise trying to cure the cat using available medical methods. This includes radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Recently, it is the latter option that is gaining more and more popularity, since with chemotherapy the chance of a second recurrence of the disease is impressive.

Some surgeons use a special “gentle” operation. However, it is permissible to apply it only to small-sized fibrosarcomas that do not grow. The essence of the method is to cut large vessels leading to the tumor and providing its nutrition. In some cases, such a procedure actually gives a good effect, but a dying tumor can have such unpleasant consequences as sepsis, necrosis of a large area of ​​the pet’s skin, and even metastases.

After the operation, under no circumstances should the bandages fixing the wound be removed; they should remain on the cat for as long as the doctor prescribed. It is better to put a collar on your pet’s neck, this will prevent the licking of the stitches and the inevitable subsequent suppuration. Your pet will need careful care, attention, proper diet and regular hygiene. During the recovery period, you will have to give up walking.

Finally, I would like to say that a positive prognosis for cancer depends entirely on the speed of detection of the tumor, as well as its location and degree of progression. This also applies to fibrosarcoma. Unfortunately, there are no preventive measures that can protect a cat from this unpleasant pathology. Give your pet timely vaccinations and take him at least once a month for examination by a doctor; this practice will significantly reduce the risk of your cat developing cancer.

What is sarcoma

This is a malignant neoplasm, the “ancestor” of which is connective tissue cells. Even among “human” doctors, sarcoma has an extremely bad reputation, since this type of oncology is characterized by very aggressive behavior and rapid expansion of body tissues. Most often, sarcoma of the lower jaw in a cat (like its other types) is formed from cells of the synovial membrane. These tumors are dangerous because they are not “linked” to any specific organ, and therefore can arise anywhere and anytime. Differing even from other malignant neoplasms, they generally do not have any more or less pronounced boundaries, are extremely difficult to respond to operative (surgical) therapy, and often give metastases.

Another difficulty is that suspicion of sarcoma does not arise immediately, since until the very end it can be mistaken for a post-vaccination (for example) complication.

Prevention

Sometimes, when faced with post-vaccination sarcoma in cats, owners subsequently refuse to vaccinate their pets at all. This is a fundamentally wrong approach, because the animal can die from a viral infection. There are a number of recommendations that can minimize the risk of vaccine-associated tumors.

Vaccine selection

The latest generation of drugs practically do not cause irritation at the injection site.

• There is a rabies vaccine that does not contain aluminum hydroxide, that very dangerous adjuvant. This is Purevax Feline Rabies from the French company Merial.
• Unfortunately, not all clinics have it in stock; cats are more often vaccinated with the usual Rabisin. Owners have to look for the drug themselves.

Injection site

If complications from the vaccine are expected, the injection site should be chosen taking into account possible surgical intervention.

• Injections into the tail are suggested, but this is too painful and is therefore not practiced.
• You can inject just below the knee subcutaneously, or intramuscularly into the thigh.
• Even in the case of the traditional injection of the vaccine into the withers area, this can be done not directly above the spine, but by stepping back to the right or left, above the shoulder blade or ribs.

Formation of oncological alertness

After vaccination, owners must independently monitor whether their pet is ok

When examining the vaccination site, pay attention to the presence and size of the compaction.

• The swelling should completely disappear after 1-2 months; if it persists longer, an examination by a veterinarian is necessary.
• If the tumor is more than 2 cm in diameter or is increasing, then the visit should not be delayed. Time is of the essence in the case of fibrosarcoma.

Fewer injections

Clinicians should avoid administering drugs by injection to cats if alternatives are available.

• The antibiotic Sinulox is available in the form of subcutaneous injections and in the form of tablets.
• The same is true for methylprednisolone and hundreds of other drugs.

Owners should try giving their cat the medication by mouth before choosing an injectable form.

Disease prevention

Unfortunately, there is no prophylaxis to prevent the development of sarcoma. What to do in this case? To minimize the risk of developing post-vaccination sarcoma, it is better for the cat owner to avoid subcutaneous injections and give preference to intramuscular injections or oral medications.

It is not uncommon for owners to bring cats with sarcoma too late, so the prognosis for survival for such animals is extremely disappointing.

Many people, because they are worried about whether sarcoma can be transmitted to humans from a cat, do not want to treat the animal and prefer to euthanize it as soon as possible. Veterinarians claim that this pathology is not transmitted from a cat to any other living creature, since it is not infectious.

Treatment of fibrosarcoma in cats

Treatment of fibrosarcomas is often surgical. After diagnosing the formation and examining the patient, the tumor is removed under anesthesia.

It is necessary to completely remove the tumor and suture the post-surgical wound well. To do this, you need to accurately understand the size of the tumor and know whether it affects vital vessels, nerves, organs and tissues. The oncologist surgeon does this during the surgical removal itself, or, if necessary, before the operation, a study is carried out using a computed tomograph.

After removal and histology is ready, further treatment and diagnosis of the patient may be required, especially if the formation is prone to metastasis.

If the tumor grows into the muscles, fascia and bones, then it is necessary to remove the tumor along with the affected tissues, which complicates the operation and increases its morbidity.

If the formation cannot be completely removed due to its difficult localization, then irradiation is performed before surgery. After removal of the formation, irradiation of this area is also continued.

Clinical case of treatment of fibrosarcoma in a cat

A 6-year-old mixed-breed cat, Tisha, was admitted to the clinic with complaints of jaw formation. Until this time, Tisha was observed at a third-party clinic. Upon examination, a large fixed formation of the left branch of the lower jaw was noted. After the examination, no signs of distant metastasis were identified.

The decision to operate was made. A combined resection of the jaw was performed - a complete horizontal mandibulectomy and a rostral mandibulectomy (removal of the left branch of the mandible involving the right side, caudal to the right canine). This type of resection allowed us to capture healthy tissue.

After the operation, Tisha recovered quickly to normal - after 5 days he was able to independently eat softened food and did not experience discomfort.

According to histological analysis, the answer was received - well-differentiated fibrosarcoma. This type of tumor is malignant, but when resected within healthy tissue it has a better prognosis. We hope for a long life expectancy.

Surgeon-oncologist: Ph.D. Kablukov A.D. Assistant: Tonkonogov D.D. Cardiologist: Oleynikov D.A.

Osteosarcoma– bone cancer. It can develop in both dogs and cats. It is the most common primary tumor in dogs. The primary tumor is a solitary tumor, developing in a separate location, and not as a result of metastasis of cancer from other tissues.

The most common sites for osteosarcoma to occur are the skull and extremities. The vertebrae and ribs may also be affected. Osteosarcoma can often metastasize to the lungs and other bones. The prognosis for osteosarcoma in dogs is unfavorable due to the high degree of metastasis to various parts of the body. In cats, osteosarcoma is less aggressive.

Additional Information

Pathophysiology

Osteosarcoma is suspected to be caused by bone trauma. So this can happen in dogs of giant and large breeds in massive bones, precisely in the place of the growth section of the bone, which was the last to close, as a result of a mild injury. But the pathogenetic pathways for the development of the disease have not been fully determined. Osteosarcoma also develops in areas of bone where metal implants were used to reduce a fracture.
Affected Systems

• Musculoskeletal - Some reports indicate that the appendicular skeleton is more commonly affected than the axial skeleton in dogs; and vice versa in cats. The most commonly affected bones are the skull, shoulder, femur, and tibia.
• Metastases spread more often by hematogenous route and appear in the lungs and other bones. The lymphogenous route of spread is rare.
  

Figure 2. X-ray of the dog's chest demonstrating the development of metastatic tumors in the lungs after 7 months from the date of amputation of the forearm due to osteosarcoma of the radius. After these tumors were removed from the lungs, the dog lived for another 9 months.

Sometimes non-skeletal areas - skin, brain, other tissues - can be affected.

Genetic predisposition

Although there is a breed predisposition, there is no proven mode of inheritance.

Breed size and maturity may be more important than breed and line.

Prevalence

Osteosarcoma accounts for 80% of all primary bone tumors.

Osteosarcoma accounts for 2-7% of all malignant tumors in dogs and affects about 7.9 dogs out of 100,000 each year.

Statistics for cats are not known.

Predisposed breeds

Dogs – large and giant breeds

Cats – domestic shorthair

Age predisposition

Dogs - average age 7 years, but cases have been reported in dogs younger than 7 months.

Cats – in cats older than 7 years, there is no clearer data.
Sex predisposition

Male dogs are more predisposed in the St. Bernard breed, with a 1.2:1 male to female ratio of appendicular osteosarcoma.

Anamnesis

Swelling of the long bone at the metaphysis, accompanied by pain and lameness.

Clinical recognition of a bone tumor of the axial skeleton is more difficult. Localized swelling, palpable masses, and other signs associated with localized involvement (eg, respiratory signs associated with rib involvement).

Survey data

Dogs and cats often exhibit lameness upon examination, which the owner attributes to a known or unknown traumatic factor.

Swelling and lameness may develop at the site of the former fracture.

Patients with metastases outside the primary site may have polyostotic claudication.

Neurological signs may predominate in patients with vertebral lesions

Physical examination results

The affected part appears swollen in many patients.

The pain is often localized to the site of the disease, lameness varies from mild to complete loss of support on the limb.

Lymphedema develops in animals with the most advanced stage of tumor. Soft tissue involvement can be very serious.

Pathological fractures.

Causes

Unknown. But multiple repetitive trauma in large bones is expected.

Risk factors

Large and giant breed dogs

Early maturity

Previous episode of fracture using metal implants or exposure to ionizing radiation.
Differential diagnosis

Other primary bone tumors

Metastatic lesions from other primary tumor sources.

Bacterial or fungal osteomyelitis.

Blood and urine tests

The results are usually normal.

Laboratory research

Creatinine clearance may be helpful in patients with possible renal dysfunction.

Visual diagnostic methods
Radiographic findings in the primary tumor.
picture

When performing an X-ray examination, it is necessary to take pictures in at least two perpendicular projections. Radiographic bone density may be increased (proliferative, sclerotic and osteoblastic processes), decreased (lytic and osteoclastic processes) or mixed (proliferative and lytic processes).

In the early stages, proliferation and lysis may be minimal and localized, with further progression leading to destruction of the cortex and penetration of the tumor into the soft tissue.

A periosteal reaction is pronounced, but it manifests itself as a response to damage and is not a pathognomonic sign of a tumor.

The Codman triangle represents the area of ​​subperiosteal new bone formation that fuses with the reactive bone at the periphery of the tumor, giving the appearance of a triangle on radiographs. This is often observed but is not diagnostic for osteosarcoma or other primary bone tumors.

Osteosarcoma usually does not cross the joint space

First of all, osteosarcoma is localized in the metaphysis.

Chest X-ray

Three projections of radiographs (right and left lateral and ventrodorsal) must be obtained to identify possible metastases.

About 5-10% of patients have evidence of pulmonary metastases at diagnosis.

Metastatic osteosarcoma is not detected until the nodes reach a size of 6-8 mm, multiple, round and dense.

In patients with osteosarcoma, findings include osteolysis and extra- or intrathoracic masses often accompanied by secondary pleural effusion.
Bone scan
Can detect earlier stages of cancer than a simple x-ray, but must be interpreted with caution as areas of previous trauma or inflammation may be indistinguishable from cancer.
Metastatic neoplasm is found in 10-25% of patients.
Other diagnostic procedures

Bone biopsy

Can be performed under local or general anesthesia depending on behavior and degree of pain.

Sampling is carried out from the central area of ​​damage. Samples from the periphery show only reactive reactions.

Small biopsy samples may be misdiagnosed as other primary bone tumors.

External and histological findings.

On external examination, moderate to severe bone destruction

Histologically, abnormal formation of bone or osteoid tissue by tumor cells. Sarcoma cells are swollen, polygonal in shape, generally very cellular, and often contain many mitotic regions.
conclusions

With organ-sparing treatment, tumor recurrence is possible, so repeated radiographs are necessary as a means of monitoring.

Chest X-rays are performed monthly in the first three months after surgery and once every three months thereafter.

Prevention

No data

Possible complications

With organ-conserving surgery – local infection, tumor recurrence, implant rejection.

In case of amputation, arthritis in the hip or other joints may interfere with normal locomotion in three-legged patients. Other complications are rare.

For all patients, the primary complication is distant metastases.

Hypertrophic osteopathy is observed in some patients with pulmonary metastases.

Expected course and forecast

dogs

without treatment - metastases to the lungs and other bones, pathological fractures, decreased quality of life caused by local progression of the disease developing over 4 months. after diagnosing the disease.

amputation only– average survival rate 4 months.

with amputation or limb salvage plus chemotherapy cisplatin\carboplatin\doxorubicin average survival 1 year. survival is up to 2 years in approximately 30% of patients.

Cats

The biological behavior of osteosarcoma in cats is less aggressive than in dogs. With amputation, the average survival rate is more than 4 years.
Clinical signs typically seen in this disease

1. tachycardia
2. bloating
3. anorexia, loss of appetite
4. ascites
5. bloody feces
6. erythema of mucous membranes
7. constipation
8. diarrhea
9. hepatosplenomegaly, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly
10. ataxia, incoordination, falling
11. dysmetria, hypermetria, hypometria
12. fever
13. forelimb atrophy
14. swelling of the forelimb
15. generalized lameness
16. swelling in the head area
17. bleeding
18. hind limb atrophy
19. swelling of the hind limb
20. hind limb lameness
21. internal masses in the abdominal cavity
22. swelling of the mammary glands
23. swelling in the mouth
24. pallor of the mucous membranes
25. polydipsia
26. swelling, swelling of the skin
27. swelling in the chest, ribs, sternum
28. lack of weight, thinness
29. forelimb crepitus
30. crepitus of the hind limb and pelvis
31. luxation, abnormal mobility in the extra-articular area
32. abnormal behavior, aggression, change in habits
33. dullness, depression, lethargy
34. exophthalmos
35. third eyelid prolapse
36. colic, abdominal pain
37. forelimb pain
38. hind limb pain
39. more chest bones
40. skull bone pain
41. pain from external pressure on the chest
42. abnormal testes size
43. mucous vaginal discharge
44. purulent vaginal discharge
45. cough
46. dyspnea, open mouth breathing
47. epistaxis, nosebleeds
48. sneezing
49. swelling of the skin
50. hematuria
51. increase in kidney size
52. polyuria
53. brown or pink coloration of urine

Treatment

The given treatment examples are for informational purposes only and cannot be used as a strict rule in a particular case.

When developing initial diagnostics, including bone biopsy, it is performed on an outpatient basis.

Inpatient treatment is necessary during surgery and chemotherapy. Maintenance chemotherapy can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Activity

Reduces during the perioperative period

Diet

Not required

Owner training

Discuss the need for prompt surgical and chemotherapy interventions for a better outcome.

Surgical aspects

Dogs

Appendicular skeleton

The method of choice is amputation of the affected limb after chemotherapy. Amputation is carried out as disarticulation of the nearest joint above the site of tumor development.

Limb preservation – After surgical removal of the primary tumor, the defect is replaced with a bone allograft. It is then stabilized by fixation with a plate for complete healing. After surgery, chemotherapy is given.

Axial skeleton

Mandibulectomy or maxillectomy if possible (removal of upper or lower jaw)

Ribs – rib resection (with reconstruction if necessary) after appropriate chemotherapy.

Cats

Appendicular skeleton

Amputation is the method of choice. Chemotherapy is not needed due to the low aggressiveness of the tumor.
Axial skeleton

Same as in dogs, but often impossible to obtain complete tumor removal

Inoperable tumors

Often used as palliative radiotherapy
Medicines

Cisplatin is considered the treatment of choice for osteosarcoma in dogs. Helps prevent or delay the onset of distant metastases, which occurs in 90% of patients.

Cisplatin is administered immediately after surgery and then at 21-day intervals for a total of 4 treatments. Aggressive diuresis is performed to prevent kidney damage. The following protocol can be used as one of the options:

18.3 mg/kg/hour 0.9% sodium chloride solution for 4 hours.

Cisplatin 70 mg/m. sq. dissolves in sodium chloride solution to maintain the need for diuresis.

After chemotherapy with cisplatin, diuretic therapy is maintained for another 2 hours

Vomiting or nausea during treatment can be controlled with antiemetic drugs.

Contraindications

Patients with moderate or severe renal impairment may not tolerate platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Cautions

Chemotherapy requires special treatment. The administration of cytotoxic drugs must be carried out with caution.

Cisplatin is lethal to cats and should not be used.

Possible interactions

No information

Alternative drugs

Similar survival can be achieved using carboplatin instead of cisplatin.

There is no need for aggressive diuresis when using this drug. Recommended dosage 300 mg/sq.m. and is also given at 21-day intervals for a total of 4 courses.

Carboplatin may be considered as an alternative for patients with impaired renal function, but also requires special attention and caution in this group of patients.

Veterinarians note that cancer in cats is quite common. By analogy with treatment in humans, it does not always have a positive effect in the case of pets. The most difficult case is sarcoma in cats, which ultimately leads to the inevitable death of the animal.

Some types of cancer can be treated with drugs. But their impact has a negative impact on all functions of the cat’s body. Sarcoma, unfortunately, is practically incurable due to its too rapid development.

What is sarcoma and its causes?

Sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm, built primarily from connective tissue cells, most often the synovial membrane. The aggressiveness of the disease, the rapid spread of metastases and the virtual absence of symptoms in the early stages are noted. Therefore, more than half of the cats and cats that are diagnosed with sarcoma cannot be saved.

Sarcoma is being studied by scientists and veterinarians and many types have already been identified. However, the greatest danger is posed by:

• liposarcoma;
• fibrosarcoma;
• microsarcoma

Synovial tissue lines the joints and can regenerate quite quickly. Damage to them by diseased cells leads to the spread of the disease into the connective tissues. Therefore, soft tissue sarcoma in cats and paw bones are equally dangerous. Such malignant formations can arise suddenly and anywhere, without any connection to organs, metastasize instantly, and even surgical intervention may be delayed.

Another difficulty lies in the fact that the disease does not manifest itself in any way in the early period. And rapid spread will not give a clear picture of which organ the sarcoma began to destroy the cat’s body. The exact location from which the tumor started and metastasized, for example, to the kidneys of an animal, is completely impossible to determine.

Veterinarians find it difficult to name the exact cause of sarcoma in cats, but suggest that it may be a consequence of:

• negative influence of carcinogens;
• as a result of viral infections and diseases.

Signs of sarcoma and clinical picture

Sarcoma can be called a “silent” cancer, the symptoms of which do not appear until the destruction of the affected organs becomes critical. External manifestations include the following::

• a tumor on a joint or anywhere, it is noted that it grows very quickly;
• lameness, which may seem minor at first, but subsequently the cat is practically unable to walk on the limb;
• refusal of food, which leads to sudden weight loss;
• lethargy of the animal, desire to constantly sleep, lack of interest in favorite games;
• a pain symptom that torments an animal, depriving it of sleep and rest.

Any of the listed symptoms is a reason to contact a veterinary clinic. Cat owners should know that delay here can be fatal and lead to death for the pet.

Post-vaccination complications

There have been cases where, after standard vaccination, animals developed cancer. A seemingly harmless preventive measure became the cause of post-injection sarcoma in cats. It is difficult for veterinarians to explain the reason and mechanism of such a reaction; this is only a feature of the animal’s body, its response to the administration of the drug or inflammation at the injection site.

The most complete statistics on the disease were collected by American doctors, since much attention is paid to vaccination of pets there. However, there is no exact answer or conclusion about the cause. It is difficult to answer why after a regular injection a tumor can form - post-vaccination sarcoma in cats, from which it dies quickly and painfully.

Diagnostics

Of course, only the owner of the animal can detect the symptoms. Only from his words will the veterinarian draw conclusions about the purpose of clinical studies. taken for analysis:

• blood;
• tumor cells.

Only studying the material will give an accurate answer about the nature of the neoplasm. In addition, an x-ray examination of the affected area is prescribed to draw conclusions to what extent the sarcoma has affected nearby tissues.

Note that in some cases, when the disease has not yet deeply penetrated the cat’s body, surgical intervention aimed at excision of the affected area is possible. This will significantly reduce the cat’s quality of life, but will protect it from death. Agree that you can live without one limb, but for a few more years.

Treatment

After sarcoma has been identified in a cat, conclusions are drawn about its spread and prediction of treatment results. The feasibility of treatment is also decided and the veterinarian makes a decision on its tactics. It is noted that only correct determination of the type of tumor and competent treatment methods can give a successful result.

• Single type tumor. It is preliminarily determined how significantly the tissues closest to it are affected. Then the tumor itself and the affected areas are surgically removed. If a sarcoma of a limb is detected, the limb is amputated.
• Post-vaccination sarcoma. It is necessary to prescribe not only a surgical method of removal, but also therapeutic treatment with specific drugs before and after surgery.
• The tumor is unresectable. Requires chemotherapy, which often gives a positive result.

Doctors note the fact that the result of treatment for sarcoma directly depends on the time of its detection. If it was possible to “capture” the disease at an early stage, then surgical intervention can give a good result in defeating it.

Preventive measures

If we talk about prevention, it is difficult to give recommendations that will definitely protect a cat from sarcoma. You can only reduce the risks to a minimum by reducing the impact of carcinogenic substances on the animal’s body, boosting the immune system with vitamin supplements and good nutrition.

Cat owners need to know that it is completely impossible to cure sarcoma with folk remedies or on their own. The rapid development of the disease can take away the pet’s precious health with every minute and therefore it is necessary to immediately take it to the clinic. Only a correct diagnosis and proper treatment will help prolong the cat’s life.

K.Yu. Bryushkovsky, Ph.D., A.G. Klyavin Ph.D.

Veterinary Oncology Center "Pride", St. Petersburg

Introduction

Soft tissue sarcomas are one of the least studied groups of malignant tumors in dogs and cats. They are very diverse in their histological structure, growth rate, ability to metastasize, and response to treatment. Their incidence is approximately 15% of all malignant neoplasms in domestic animals. However, they rank 4th as the cause of death among cancers in dogs and cats. This suggests that the effectiveness of treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in veterinary medicine is at a very low level.

What are sarcomas

From the very beginning, it is necessary to determine the types of malignant neoplasms that belong to the large group of soft tissue sarcomas. Soft tissue sarcomas are mesenchymal tumors located outside the skeleton and internal organs. In 2002, a revised WHO classification of skin and soft tissue tumors in domestic animals was published.

Soft tissue sarcomas include the following neoplasms.

Malignant tumors of fibrous tissue

1. Fibrosarcoma:

a) post-vaccination cats;

b) highly differentiated upper and lower jaws of dogs.

2. Myxosarcoma:

3. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma:

a) spindle-pleomorphic cell type;

b) inflammatory;

c) giant cell.

Malignant tumors of adipose tissue

Liposarcoma:

a) highly differentiated;

b) pleomorphic;

c) myxoid

Malignant smooth muscle tumors

Leiomyosarcoma.

Malignant tumors of striated muscles

Rhabdomyosarcoma

a) angiosarcoma of the ventral abdominal wall of cats

Malignant tumors of peripheral nerves

Malignant tumor of the peripheral nerve sheath of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (neurofibrosarcoma, malignant schwannoma)

Malignant tumors of synovial membranes

Synovial sarcoma.

Malignant histiocytic tumors

Malignant histiocytosis.

Malignant unclassified tumors

1. Canine hemangiopericytoma;

2. Malignant mesenchymoma.

Stages

The basis for successful treatment in oncology is its correct and advance planning. This is especially true in the case of soft tissue sarcomas. To determine the optimal treatment, you need to know the stage of the process:

TNMclassification

Size tumors T

T 1 < or = 5 cm

T 1 a superficial tumor with clear boundaries

T 1 b tumor without clear boundaries

T 2 >5cm T 2 a / T 2 b

Metastases V regional lymph nodes

N o - no metastases

N 1 - there are metastases

Remote metastases

M o - no metastases

M 1 - presence of metastases

At stage 4 of the process, surgical removal of the tumor is justified only if it significantly improves the patient’s quality of life, for example, it removes pain. Before planning an operation, we always carefully diagnose the presence of distant metastases in the body of a sick animal. To do this, it is necessary to conduct an X-ray diagnosis of the chest and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. The metastatic ability of sarcomas depends on the tumor histotype:

In general, it should be noted the predominance of the hematogenous route of metastasis over the lymphogenous one. Before starting treatment planning, it is necessary to assess the factors influencing the aggressiveness of the oncological process.

For soft tissue sarcomas, you need to pay attention to the following factors:

Tumors in dogs larger than 5 cm are 3 times more likely to metastasize;

Tumor location: The average life expectancy of dogs with skin invasion was almost 3 times longer than that of dogs with muscle tissue invasion. Also, sarcomas on the extremities have a more aggressive growth than sarcomas in the head;

Mobility relative to surrounding tissues is a favorable prognosis factor.

After conducting a morphological study, the doctor receives valuable prognostic information:

The degree of differentiation of tumor cells - the lower the differentiation, the more likely distant metastasis and rapid local invasive tumor growth are;

The more foci of necrosis in a tumor, the worse its sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy;

The number of mitoses in a tumor indicates the degree of its malignancy; the most malignant tumors have more than 20 mitoses in the field of view.

Treatment methods

The main treatment method for sarcomas is surgery. In this case, it is very important to remove all tumor tissue, that is, to perform a radical operation. To do this, the following principles must be observed:

Ablasticity is the complete removal of tumor cells from the body and preventing them from entering the surgical wound during surgery. The most important thing during ablastic removal of soft tissue sarcoma is to correctly determine the boundaries of tumor resection in healthy tissues. As the sarcoma grows, it compresses the surrounding tissues, forming a so-called pseudocapsule - an area of ​​compacted tissue around the tumor. This pseudocapsule is not a barrier to the passage of tumor cells, therefore, when removing a tumor, the resection margin should be no closer than 3 cm from the borders of the pseudocapsule. For post-vaccination feline sarcoma, the minimum distance to the edge of the tumor is 5 cm. It is unacceptable to damage the capsule when removing the tumor. The biopsy site must be within the area of ​​tissue being removed. Often, when planning an operation to remove a sarcoma, it is necessary to plan a reconstructive part to close the resulting defect after removal of the tumor. It should be remembered that after completing the oncological part of the operation, it is necessary to change gloves and instruments to avoid contamination of the surgical wound with tumor cells. If there are ulcers or other damage to the skin on the tumor, they must be covered with sterile wipes so that gloves and instruments do not touch the tumor tissue. During surgery, the tumor should not be picked up, squeezed, or pressed on it, as all this stimulates the release of tumor cells into the body’s bloodstream.

The principle of sheathing: soft tissue sarcomas spread through the interfascial spaces, therefore, when removing them, it is necessary to remove all anatomical structures and tissues included in the common fascial sheath, that is, all the muscles and the fascia covering them.

Treatment algorithm for soft tissue formation

If the tumor extends beyond the musculofascial boundaries, the surgeon should be guided by the principles of zonation and blocking. This is especially true when removing sarcomas that have a lymphatic metastasis route, primarily rhabdomyosarcoma, histiocytic sarcoma and hemangiosarcoma. Such tumors should be removed en bloc, including all tissues in the area of ​​regional lymphatic drainage. The presence of tumor cells in regional lymph nodes is a poor prognostic factor. However, enlargement of regional lymph nodes does not indicate the presence of tumor cells in them. We encountered a case where, after a histological examination of removed enlarged lymph nodes in dogs with soft tissue sarcoma, no tumor cells were found and a diagnosis of reactive hyperplasia was made. We did not prescribe systemic chemotherapy to such patients.

When surgically removing soft tissue sarcomas, antiblastic techniques can be used. In our practice, we tried intraoperative irradiation of the surgical wound and intraoperative use of photodynamic therapy. The use of ionizing radiation intraoperatively is associated with great technical difficulties, since the source of ionizing radiation is located outside our clinic. We also encountered a lengthening of the postoperative period and complications during the healing of the surgical suture.

When using photodynamic therapy intraoperatively, we administered to the patient a dose of photoditazine 1 mg/kg body weight 1 hour before surgery. The tumor was removed and the tumor bed was irradiated with a laser with a wavelength of 661 nm. Of the postoperative complications, only swelling of the surgical suture on days 3-7 and the presence of seroma were noticed.

Among the technical difficulties, it should be noted that the patient needs to stay in a dark room for 24 hours after photodynamic therapy. After surgery, the removed material should be sent for histological examination.

The main prognostic factor is the presence of tumor cells at the resection margin. In order for a morphologist to be able to reliably determine their presence, it is necessary to paint all surfaces of the specimen that came into contact with body tissues before fixation with a special paint. When it is impossible to present all the removed material for examination, the most suspicious areas should be marked with paint. If tumor cells are found in the stained areas, the operation is considered non-radical and the animal requires additional treatment. The most effective is a repeat operation, with excision of the surgical scar and capture of 5 cm of tissue in each direction; postoperative irradiation of the resection margins and surrounding tissues can also be used. We use adjuvant radiation therapy for positive resection margins, for rhabdomyosarcoma, and for high-grade sarcomas - G 3. We begin radiation therapy no later than 10-14 days after surgery at a dose of SOD 50-60 Gy. Dose per fraction - 5 Gy. Wide irradiation fields are used, departing 5-7 cm from the resection boundaries. Radiation therapy sessions are carried out 3-5 times a week, using sedation. The session time is usually 5-10 minutes; short-acting drugs are used for sedation: pofol and domitor with antisedan. We had no complications associated with anesthesia.

In humane medicine, preoperative irradiation is widely used in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. Its tasks are:

Reducing the malignant potential of the tumor due to the death of the most aggressive cells;

Total damage to subclinical tumor foci;

Reducing tumor volume.

The interval between the course of radiation therapy and surgery should be no more than 2-3 weeks. Because of this, after neoadjuvant radiation therapy, a large number of postoperative complications are recorded, up to 40%. When comparing preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcomas, no statistically significant difference in effectiveness was found. In our practice, we use only adjuvant radiation therapy.

In the treatment of high-grade (G 3) soft tissue sarcomas, especially in the case of histologically confirmed histiocytic sarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, we use adjuvant chemotherapy. Doxorubicin alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide is used as a chemotherapeutic agent. According to a meta-analysis of randomized trials in humane medicine, doxorubicin reduces the risk of local and systemic recurrence with a trend towards increased survival, which was better observed when the tumor was localized to the extremity. However, such studies have not been conducted in veterinary medicine. Other combinations of doxorubicin have not shown greater effectiveness compared to doxorubicin alone.

Adjuvant chemotherapy protocol

Doxorubicin - 30 mg/m2 intravenously once every 3 weeks, 3-5 courses.

Doxorubicin - 30 mg/m2

Cyclophosphamide - 300 mg/m2 - once every 3 weeks - 3-5 courses.

We begin chemotherapy on the 10th to 14th day after surgery. It should be remembered that doxorubicin is a fairly toxic chemotherapy drug. It causes various anaphylactic reactions, myelosuppression, cardiotoxicity in dogs at a cumulative dose of more than 180 mg/m2 and nephrotoxicity in cats. All this must be taken into account when conducting a course of chemotherapy. As an additional drug treatment after surgery, metronomic chemotherapy can be used, which is aimed at slowing angiogenesis in the tumor and suppressing regulatory T cells that are necessary for tumor growth. In this protocol, chemotherapy drugs are given in reduced doses on a daily basis for an extended period of time. We use a combination of piroxicam at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide at a dose of 15 mg/m2 daily. It is still premature to draw conclusions about the effectiveness, however, there are positive reviews in the specialized foreign literature.

In the complex treatment of soft tissue sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcoma should be especially emphasized. This tumor is one of the most aggressive among soft tissue neoplasms. However, it responds better than other sarcomas to radiation and chemotherapy. In animals, it is most often localized on the limbs, but can also appear in other parts of the body (breast, lower jaw). For the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma, we always use adjuvant radiation therapy, regardless of the grade of the tumor and the condition of the resection margins. Rhabdomyosarcoma actively metastasizes, so adjuvant chemotherapy should be part of complex treatment.

Protocol for rhabdomyosarcoma

Dactinomycin - 0.5 mg/m2 once every 3 weeks.

Vincristine - 0.5 mg/m2 on days 8 and 15.

Cyclophosphamide - 250 mg/m2 once every 3 weeks. We repeat this course at intervals of 21 days. If owners cannot use dactinomycin, we administer chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide.

In cats, one of the most aggressive soft tissue sarcomas is post-vaccination fibrosarcoma. Its name is associated with the hypothesis that the cause of this tumor is the adjuvant included in many vaccines. Causing chronic inflammation with proliferation in the injection area, it becomes a trigger for the development of sarcoma. There is also data on the viral nature of the disease and on the genetic predisposition of certain lines of cats to the development of this neoplasm. This tumor exhibits aggressive invasive growth and has a minimum tumor doubling time of 9 days; for comparison, the most aggressive breast tumor has a tumor doubling rate of 30 days. Post-vaccination sarcoma metastasizes infrequently, in less than 20% of cases and, as a rule, in advanced cases or after non-radical surgery when a relapse occurs. Therefore, to cure an animal, it is necessary to diagnose the disease as early as possible and carry out radical surgery. Any veterinarian should develop an oncological alertness and conduct a cytological examination of lumps in cats at the site of vaccination or injection of drugs. Warning signs of the development of fibrosarcoma are:

Swelling that persists for more than 3 months after vaccination;

The seal is more than 2 cm in diameter;

The lump increases in size 4 weeks after vaccination.

For ablastic removal of this tumor, it is necessary to perform a wide excision of the tumor. The surgical margins should be at least 2 cm from the edge of the tumor, however, this may not be sufficient. Among some veterinary oncologists, there is currently an opinion that a distance of 5 cm from the visible border of the tumor should be considered safe. The effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy in addition to surgery for post-vaccination feline fibrosarcoma is currently being studied. In our opinion, adjuvant chemotherapy is justified in the presence of a positive resection margin. There are studies that show an increase in life expectancy in cats using adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin alone, but these data require further study. As a preventive measure and to improve the possible resectability of the tumor, the following measures can be proposed:

Do not inject the vaccine into the area between the shoulder blades;

The rabies vaccine is administered under the skin of the right leg;

The FeLV vaccine is administered under the skin of the left leg;

The remaining vaccines are administered into the right shoulder.

conclusions

To summarize, we would like to dwell on our own mistakes encountered in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in dogs and cats. Firstly, this is an incorrectly calculated volume of the operation. As practice shows, sometimes a surgeon, following the instructions of the owners, may sacrifice the radical nature of the operation in order to reduce the invasiveness of the intervention. Such cowardice can cost the patient’s life, because a recurrent tumor, as a rule, has a higher degree of malignancy and more often metastasizes. Secondly, it is not correct to refuse chemotherapy in the case of high-grade sarcomas (G 3) or in the presence of a diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. We know from our own experience how painful it is to discover distant metastases after complex surgery and successful rehabilitation of an animal. Adjuvant chemotherapy should not be delayed, as this allows tumor cells to successfully divide and metastasize. And, in conclusion, I would like to warn against making decisions about euthanizing an animal only on the basis of a cytological diagnosis. In our practice, there were enough cases when, after removing a tumor and conducting a histological examination, the prognosis significantly improved, and the patient lived happily ever after. I hope our experience will help our colleagues and they will successfully treat their patients with this complex and aggressive neoplasm.

Literature

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2. Aliev M.D. Modern approaches to the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas // Practical Oncology -2004 Vol. 5 No. 4 - pp. 250-253

Z. Henderson Ralph A. Rules of oncology // Abstracts of the report. XX Moscow International Veterinary Congress M.2012

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In this article I will talk about what oncological diseases (cancer) occur in cats, what are the reasons for their development and the main symptoms. I will describe methods for diagnosing such diseases, methods of treatment, and what the owner should do if a terrible disease is detected in an animal. I’ll tell you whether feline oncology is dangerous for humans, and what prevention is.

Types of oncology in cats and its symptoms

Oncology is a disease in which cells begin to grow and expand into surrounding tissues completely uncontrollably. There are two types of malignant tumors: localized (when the tumor is limited to one affected area) and generalized (spread throughout the body).

The following cancers occur in cats.

Mammary cancer (breast in an animal)

Breast cancer (in first place in terms of prevalence).

It affects unsterilized cats, and is more often observed in pets that have never given birth.

Tumors or lumps grow inside the mammary glands (breasts). First, small dense balls appear, which gradually increase in size and at the last stage open. If left untreated, the animal will not live long.

Lymphoma

The abnormal cells affect the lymph nodes, first one, and then spread to the others and affect the liver and bone marrow. The disease manifests itself as compaction of the affected lymph nodes.

Sarcoma (fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, liposarcoma)

This type of cancer is the most aggressive, as it spreads throughout the body very quickly. May occur in the abdominal cavity of cats. Manifested by lameness, apathy, emaciation. The animal is in severe pain and is worried.

Sarcoma is the most aggressive type of cancer in cats.

Carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

This tumor affects the epithelial cells of internal organs and skin. It metastasizes very quickly. It can manifest itself as the formation of ulcers on the skin, damage to the gums and oral mucosa. The wound may open. If the lungs are affected, the cat may cough and pant. When the intestines are damaged, constipation, abdominal enlargement, and vomiting are observed.

This type of cancer affects the cat’s oral cavity and can affect the tongue, palate, and tonsils. In this case, non-healing ulcers form on the mucous membrane, and a strong and unpleasant odor appears. As the disease progresses, your pet may lose teeth and become crooked.

Almost all types of oncology are accompanied by such general symptoms as significant weight loss, apathy, and enlarged lymph nodes.

Squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by non-healing sores in a cat's mouth

Causes of cancer development

The exact reasons for the development of oncology have not yet been identified. Veterinarians believe that in most cases, the predisposition to cancer is inherited. Development factors also include long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation, chemicals, etc. This type of cancer, such as lymphoma, is more often observed in pets suffering from the immunodeficiency virus or coronavirus infection.

Oncology can develop after vaccination. A lump often forms at the injection site, which after 2-3 months begins to transform into a tumor, so it is better to remove any tumors as soon as possible.

Methods for diagnosing cancer diseases

Diagnosis of cancer is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. First, blood and urine are taken from the animal. Using tests, the functioning of internal organs is assessed.
2. X-ray. This type of examination allows you to detect metastases that have spread throughout the body. For breast cancer, an X-ray is called a mammogram.
3. Ultrasonography. In this way, tumors that are located shallowly can be detected. A biopsy is also performed using ultrasound.
4. Biopsy. It is carried out in three ways: using a puncture, an endoscope and surgically. In the first case, tumor particles are taken with a special needle (the material is drawn into a sterile syringe) or an endoscope (a few affected cells are pinched off). In the third method, biomaterial is collected during surgery, and the surgeon can completely remove the tumor or take only a small piece of tissue for examination.

Biopsy is the most accurate analysis for oncology

Treatment of breast tumors and other neoplasms

After all diagnostic measures have been carried out, the veterinarian will prescribe appropriate treatment.

There are three forms of cancer treatment: surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy or radiation.

The first method is the most effective, but it is carried out only if there are no metastases. The surgeon removes the malignant tumor under general anesthesia. After surgery, the animal is given chemotherapy to destroy any remaining abnormal cells.

Radiation therapy involves exposing a cancerous tumor to ionizing radiation. The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia in two ways: remote (irradiation occurs at a distance from the animal) and contact (the radiation source is introduced into the tumor itself or the cavity in which it is located).

The third type is chemotherapy. It is often combined with surgical removal of the affected tissue. The procedure involves intravenous infusion of toxic drugs that have a detrimental effect on cancer cells.

During chemotherapy treatment, your cat may lose all of its hair.

Such infusions are carried out several times according to a specific schedule. Usually the following drugs are used for treatment: Vincristine, Cisplatin, Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide, etc. Medicines are prescribed only by a veterinarian.

Chemotherapy has serious side effects: hair loss, nausea, lethargy, and digestive problems.

Is cat tumor dangerous for humans?

Oncological diseases that affect cats are not at all dangerous for people. Many people believe that you can become infected with cancer if the tumor is opened, but this is not true. Numerous studies prove that oncology is not dangerous to others.

Disease Prevention

There are several effective preventive measures that will protect your pet from developing cancer:

1. Sterilization. This measure will protect the cat from developing mammary cancer almost 100%, and it is advisable to carry out the operation either before the first heat or immediately after it.
2. Isolate chemicals from your pet. There is an opinion that the development of oncology can be caused by prolonged exposure to chemicals on a cat. Therefore, it is necessary to keep fertilizers, detergents and other substances out of reach of the animal.
3. . This procedure will protect your pet from such serious illnesses as the immunodeficiency virus and coronavirus infection.
4. Balanced diet. It is very important to pay attention to the preparation of your pet’s diet. It is better to give preference to industrial feed of at least super-premium class. Such nutrition will protect the cat from developing pathologies such as diabetes, obesity, etc.
5. Removal from breeding of animals whose ancestors suffered from cancer. There is an opinion that a predisposition to cancer is inherited, so you should not get offspring from cats that have had sick pets in their family.

Oncology is not always a death sentence.

In the early stages, this disease can be treated, but for this it is necessary to contact a veterinarian at the first signs of cancer. If your pet begins to lose weight, refuses to eat, has a fever, or is limping, immediately take your pet to a doctor.

If the veterinarian has diagnosed late-stage cancer, you need to assess the cat's quality of life and consider humane euthanasia if she is in severe pain.