Ganglioneuroblastoma in a cat: a rare neoplasm treated with electrochemotherapy

An 8-year-old male castrated cat was referred for sudden onset of lameness. Physical examination revealed a 1x2x1cm mass originating from a footpad of the right hind leg. A diagnosis of ganglioneuroblastoma was suggested by the tumour appearance following histopathological staining with haematoxylin and eosin and haematoxylin/van Gieson. Immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament and S100 further confirmed the diagnosis. The staging process did not indicate metastatic spread. The cat was treated with three sessions of electrochemotherapy (ECT) 1 week apart, following local injection of bleomycin. The tumour had completely regressed within 1 week of the third ECT application and remained in remission for 402 days at which time a small recurrence was noted. The animal was given a further session of ECT using intra-lesional cisplatin and again went into remission. It remained tumour free at 450 days. Electrochemotherapy is considered a safe and effective treatment for localised neoplasms of cats and dogs and warrants further investigation.     

Rectal prolapse of an ileocaecal neoplasm associated with intussusception in a cat

Intussusception associated with lymphoma of the ileocaecocolic junction was diagnosed in a 12-year-old female domestic short-haired cat that presented with a 3-week history of diarrhoea and a protruding anal mass. Surgical exploration revealed an ileocolonic intussusception proximal to the mass at the ileocaecal junction which was excised. A diagnosis of ileocaecocolic lymphosarcoma was made and euthanasia was later performed. This is an unusual case of an ileocaecal junction tumour that manifested as a rectal prolapse associated with intussusception in a cat.     

Suspected myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm in a feline leukemia virus‐negative cat

A 10‐year‐old castrated Domestic Short‐Haired cat was presented to a primary care veterinarian for a wellness examination and laboratory examination for monitoring of diabetes mellitus. The CBC revealed marked thrombocytosis, leukopenia and macrocytic, normochromic anemia. The cat tested negative for FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus, but was positive for Mycoplasma haemominutum by PCR. Hematologic abnormalities were not responsive to therapy, so a repeat CBC and a bone marrow aspiration for cytology were performed. Additional blood smear findings included anisocytosis with megaloblastic erythroid precursors, large platelets, eosinophilic myelocytes and metamyelocytes, and rare unidentified blasts. The bone marrow smear was highly cellular, and the cytologic pattern was consistent with myelodysplastic syndrome with an erythroid predominance. At that time, 15% blasts were present. The cat was treated with a vitamin K₂ analog, doxycycline, and prednisolone, but without a clinical response. Within 3 months, euthanasia was elected due to declining quality of life, and a necropsy was performed. Postmortem bone marrow smears were highly cellular and dominated by monomorphic blasts of unknown line of origin (52%), persistent marked erythroid and megakaryocytic dysplasia, and ineffective erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis. Immunohistochemical, immunocytochemical, and cytochemical stains resulted in a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia of unclassified type. Additional histologic findings included mixed hepatitis with trematode infestation and lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis with fibrosis. The marked thrombocytosis with myelodysplastic syndrome and the FeLV‐negative status of this cat were unusual. The difficulty in classifying the myelodysplasia and subsequent leukemia highlights a need for further reporting and characterization of these types of disease.     

A spongiform encephalopathy in a cat

A cat which developed a change of temperament, with muscle tremors, ataxia and pupillary dilatation was suspected and later confirmed histopathologically to have a spongiform encephalopathy. The case is of special interest in view of the widespread concern about spongiform encephalopathies as a result of the recent epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.     

Hypervitaminosis A in a cat.

A 10-year-old cat that was kept on a diet consisting largely of raw liver was evaluated because of lethargy, partial anorexia, and weight loss of several months' duration. The cat's head and neck were rigidly extended, and a hard mass was palpable in the ventral cervical region. Cervical and thoracic radiography revealed proliferative bony lesions of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae as well as of the sternum and costal cartilages. Serum vitamin A concentration was 4 times normal. For reasons unrelated to hypervitaminosis A, euthanasia and necropsy were performed 6 months after evaluation. The skull and the cervical and first few thoracic vertebrae were rigidly fused, and the vertebral architecture was altered by deposition of new bone. The sternum and costal cartilages were similarly affected. The historical, physical, radiographic, laboratory, and postmortem findings were consistent with the diagnosis of hypervitaminosis A. On the basis of findings in this cat, hypervitaminosis A should be suspected in any sick cat fed a diet consisting partly or completely of raw liver.     

A case of conjunctival melanoma in a cat

Since 1985, 5 cases of feline conjunctival melanoma have been reported in the literature. Information on feline conjunctival melanoma epidemiological features, localizations, macroscopic features and histological features is limited. We are describing the clinical, histopathologic features and outcomes in a cat that presented clinically with a slow developing dark brown mass located under the upper eyelid of the left eye. Pertinent literature is reviewed; and the recognizable clinical features and treatment are discussed. The mass was surgically resected. Despite its size, the lesion was easily separated from underlying tissues, making possible a macroscopic complete resection that left intact the adjacent conjunctiva. The tumour histological examination has showed a pigmented melanoma lacking encapsulation, but presenting a clear zone delimiting the lesion. It was exclusively composed of epithelioid cells, and presented mild cellular anaplasia and weak mitotic activity. These features allowed it to be classified as a quite differentiated melanoma with few signs of potential malignancy. In accordance with these histologic features, no recurrence has been registered 34 months after surgery. Thus, a favorable outcome is now reported for two out of six cases of conjunctival melanoma in the cat. This report also confirms the predilection for this neoplasm to arise from the bulbar conjunctiva.     

A case of ectopic pregnancy in a cat

Radiography of the abdomen of a Siamese cat revealed an ectopic pregnancy. It is believed that normal pregnancies had taken place after the occurrence of the abdominal pregnancy. Résumé. Une radiographie de l'abdomen d'un chat siamois a révélé une grossesse ectopique. On a pensé que des grossesses normales avaient eu lieu après l'occurrence d'une grossesse abdominale. Zusammenfassung. Radiographie von dem Unterleib einer Siamesischen Katze zeigten eine nichtnormalgelagerte Schwangerschaft. Man vermutet dass normale Schwangerschaften nach diesem Vorfall von Bauchhǒhlenschwangerschaft, stattfanden.     

A probable case of hypoparathyroidism in a cat

Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism was suspected in a young female cat. The relevant historical and clinical findings were: anorexia, intermittent muscle tremors, hindlimb ataxia, behavioural changes and cataracts. Salient laboratory findings were: hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia and normal renal function (normal serum urea and creatinine concentrations with hypersthenuria). No evidence of intestinal malabsorption, pancreatitis or nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism was found. Treatment with oral synthetic vitamin D (1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol) and intravenous and oral calcium supplements was successful in correcting the hypocalcaemia and abolishing the clinical signs.     

A case of otitis in a domestic cat

A case of otitis media and interna in a domestic cat is described in which granulation tissue extended into the external ear canal. An unusual histological feature was the presence of mucous glands within the granulation tissue. The possible origin of these glands and a differential diagnosis of this condition is discussed.     

A case of myasthenia gravis in a cat

A case of myasthenia gravis in a cat, the second to be recorded in this species, is described. A good response was obtained to oral administration of 10 mg pyridostigmine daily, preceded by 0–15 mg atropine sulphate to obviate the cholinergic effects. The cat showed no recurrence of muscular weakness 6 months after treatment was terminated. Attention is drawn to a dilation of the oesophagus, which is a feature of the condition in dogs and which was also seen in this feline case. The extent of the dilation differs in the dog and the cat and appears to be dependent upon the anatomical distribution of striated muscle in the oesophagus of the two species.     

A case of hyperplastic gastropathy in a cat

Primary hyperplastic gastropathy is an uncommon human disease characterized by giant gastric mucosal folds and is associated with a spectrum of histopathological changes. Diagnosis is usually made on radiological and gastroscopic findings followed by full-thickness biopsy of the stomach wall. The aetiology is unknown and symptomatic treatment is usually disappointing. A similar condition has been described in a small number of dogs. A case of hyperplastic gastropathy is reported in a cat and compared with the findings in man and dogs. The cat presented with chronic vomiting and weight loss. Radiological and gastroscopic examinations revealed enlarged gastric rugae. Medical and surgical treatment was unsuccessful and the cat was destroyed. The pathological findings were similar to those described in man.     

A malignant neoplasm resembling a circumanal gland adenocarcinoma in a dog.

In the neoplasm of this report a final diagnosis of a circumanal gland adenocarcinoma invading the vertebral column and canal was made based on the histologic appearance. No growths were noted in the circumanal gland region and the location of the primary neoplasm is open to debate.     

A subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in a cat

A 6-year-old spayed female Domestic Shorthair cat presented with a 1 to 2-month history of blindness and altered behavior. At necropsy, a 1-cm-diameter, firm white mass was found arising from the subependymal region of the right lateral ventricular wall that protruded into and partially filled the lumen. Histologically, there was a well-demarcated, expansile paraventricular neoplasm composed of moderately pleomorphic cells within a richly fibrillar matrix arranged in interlacing streams and perivascular pseudorosette-like patterns. Neoplastic cells varied in morphology from small spindloid cells to larger polygonal cells with eccentric vesicular nuclei to neuronlike cells with vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli. The mitotic index was low. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were positive for S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and neuron-specific enolase and negative for neurofilament protein. Ultrastructurally, the cells contained few to abundant bundles of intermediate filaments with variable numbers of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomes. These features are characteristic of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) in humans. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SEGA in domestic animals.     

A cerebral granular cell tumor in a cat

A cerebral granular cell tumor is described in a 6-year-old, short-haired, female cat. The tumor was observed above the corpus callosum and completely infiltrating the third ventricle. Histologic examination revealed that the tumor was characterized by large cells containing densely packed intracytoplasmic granules and expressed psammoma body-like patterns and cholesterinic degeneration. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed granular neoplastic cells that were diffusely and strongly vimentin-positive, while they did not express cytokeratins, lysozyme, and synaptophysin. Based on morphologic and immunohistochemical findings, the tumor under study was considered to be of meningeal origin arising directly from the meninges or from meningeal elements scattered in the tela choroidea of the third ventricle roof.     

A case of metabolic epidermal necrosis in a cat

Abstract  This report describes clinical, histological and post-mortem findings in a cat, that are similar to necrolytic migratory erythema in humans and to metabolic epidermal necrosis in dogs.
Resumen  Este articulo describe los hallazgos clinicos, histopatológicos y post mortem en un gato, similares a Eritema Necrolitico Migratorio en la especie humana y a Necrosis Epidérmica Metabólica en el perro. [Patel, A., Whitbread, J., McNeil. P. A case of metabolic epidermal necrosis in a cat. (Un caso de necrosis epidérmica en un gato.) Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 221–226.]
Résumé  Ce cas décrit les lésions cliniques, histopathologiques et nécropsiques chez un chat, évoquant l'érythème nécrolytique migrant de l'homme et la nécrose épidermique métabolique du chien. [Patel, A., Whitbread, J., McNeil. P. A case of metabolic epidermal necrosis in a cat. (Un cas de nécrose épidermique métabolique chez un chat.) Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 221–226.]
Zusammenfassung  Dieser Bericht beschreibt klinische, histopathologische und Sektionsbefunde bei einer Katze, die dem hekrolytischen migratorischen Erythem beim Menschen und der stoffwechselbedingten epidermalen Nekrose beim Hund ähneln. [Patel, A., Whitbread, J., McNeil. P. A case of metabolic epidermal necrosis in a cat. (Ein Fall von stoffwechselbedingter epidermaler nekrose bei der Katze) Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 221–226.]