Plexiform vascularisation of a retropharyngeal lymph node in a cat

Plexiform vascularisation of a retropharyngeal lymph node is described in an adult cat. The cat presented with a chronic history of inspiratory stridor and a slowly growing mass in the cranial cervical area. Clinical signs resolved after excision of the affected node. This appears to be the first clinical report of plexiform vascularisation of a retropharyngeal lymph node and its treatment in a cat.     

Pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma with multiple digital metastases in a cat

A 14-year-old domestic shorthaired cat was presented because of swelling of the digits and lameness. A solitary lung mass was observed on thoracic radiographs. Clinical and pathological evaluation confirmed a primary pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to a single digit on each foot. Other metastatic lesions were present in the left popliteal lymph node and in the left iliac vein.     

Bleomycin chemotherapy for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in a ferret.

Bleomycin, an antitumor antibiotic, was effective in temporarily reducing the size of a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in a ferret. The tumor had recurred after previous excision and had metastasized to the right submandibular lymph node. The ferret was treated without effect at a dosage of 10 U/m2, sc, once a week. The dosage was increased to 20 U/m2 once a week, and reduction of tumor size was observed.     

Oral and peripheral vestibular signs in a cat with squamous cell carcinoma

A 13-year-old female, spayed cat had oral and vestibular signs resulting from a 3-cm mass extending from the tympanic membrane to the nasopharynx. Radiography revealed a soft-tissue density in the tympanic bulla. Cytologic examination and biopsy confirmed the presence of a squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma causes vestibular signs in the cat. In this cat, squamous cell carcinoma, involving the middle and inner ear, resulted in oral and vestibular signs.     

Urinary bladder rupture secondary to penile and preputial squamous cell carcinoma in a gelding

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common external genital neoplasm. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment are paramount to successful outcome; overlooked or misdiagnosed SCC can rapidly invade tissues and metastasise, producing potentially fatal complications. This report describes a case of overlooked SCC that resulted in severe penile infiltration, urethral stricture, and subsequent urinary bladder rupture and peritonitis.     

Cisplatin chemotherapy for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in two dogs

Cisplatin was used successfully to treat 2 dogs with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. One dog was observed to have a complete remission and died of unrelated causes 23 months later. The other dog had a partial remission of the tumor, but relapsed and was euthanatized 4 1/2 months after the beginning of treatment. Both dogs tolerated the treatment well.     

Paraneoplastic leukocytosis with mature neutrophilia in a cat with pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma

A 13-year old cat had 3-day duration of vomiting, lethargy, and anorexia. A complete blood count revealed a severe neutrophilia (126.9 x 10(3) cells/microl). Thoracic radiographs demonstrated a large solitary lung mass. A bone marrow aspirate documented myeloid hyperplasia. A left intercostal thoracotomy was performed and left cranial and caudal lung lobectomies were performed in order to remove the mass in its entirety. Histological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Following surgery, the severe neutrophilia began to decrease. It was in the normal range approximately 6 weeks postoperatively. The presence of a primary lung tumor combined with a mature neutrophilia with resolution following surgical resection suggests a paraneoplastic syndrome.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma with secondary abscessation in a cat

A 16-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat was presented for investigation of weight loss, lethargy, inappetence and polydypsia. On serum biochemical analysis there was evidence of severe hepatocellular damage and cholestasis. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination revealed an irregular lesion of mixed echogenicity in a left hepatic lobe. It was compromised of a hypoechoic periphery surrounding an anechoic central area containing highly echogenic densities with distal acoustic shadowing suggestive of gas formation. On necropsy, the only gross abnormality was a solitary 5 cm x 3 cm x 3 cm multilobulated mass in the left lateral hepatic lobe, containing foul-smelling purulent fluid within a thick fibrous wall. Cytological examination of the fluid revealed numerous degenerate neutrophils and large numbers of Gram-positive spore-forming rods. The histopathological diagnosis was hepatocellular carcinoma with secondary abscessation. The bacterial morphology was consistent with Clostridia sp. Both hepatocellular carcinoma and focal hepatic abscessation are rare in cats. Hepatic abscesses should be included in the differential diagnosis of cats with non-specific signs, even in the absence of biochemical evidence of a hepatopathy.     

Co-existing squamous cell carcinoma and hemangioma on the ocular surface of a cat

A 14-year-old spayed female domestic short-haired cat was presented for evaluation of a mass in the right eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed a blind right eye and presence of two distinct masses: a pink and a red-to-brown mass, the latter occupying most of the cornea and part of the conjunctiva. Exenteration was performed under general anesthesia, and the ocular tissues were processed routinely for histopathology. Upon microscopic examination, a malignant epithelial neoplasm and a benign vascular neoplasm were present in the cornea. The conjunctiva and the third eyelid were also affected. Upon immunohistochemistry, the epithelial tumor was positive for cytokeratin and negative for vimentin and the endothelial tumor was negative for cytokeratin and positive for vimentin. A diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and hemangioma was made. The SCC was affecting the cornea, bulbar conjunctiva (lateral and inferior) and the base of the third eyelid, whereas the hemangioma was affecting the cornea and medial limbus. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of concomitant SCC and hemangioma affecting the ocular surface in a cat.     

Percutaneous puncture technique for treating persistent retropharyngeal lymph node infections in seven horses

Between 1999 and 2001, seven horses with fever, dysphagia and a history of chronic upper respiratory tract infection lasting between three weeks and three months were examined. They had been treated unsuccessfully with a variety of antibiotics for three to four weeks. A deep abscess in a retropharyngeal lymph node was diagnosed in each case by clinical examination, endoscopy and echographic examination of the retropharyngeal region. The infected retropharyngeal lymph node of each horse was punctured with a spinal needle under ultrasound guidance. Pus was aspirated from four of the horses, and their abscesses were then rinsed with 0.9 per cent saline solution, and antibiotics (sodium ceftiofur or penicillin) were injected. In the other three horses the pus was too viscous to be aspirated, and the enlarged lymph node was opened along the tract of the needle and rinsed with chlorhexidine. All the horses were treated with penicillin for two weeks and in six of them the clinical signs gradually disappeared. The other horse continued to show fever and the penicillin treatment was continued for another 10 days, after which the signs gradually disappeared over a period of two months.     

Feline papillomavirus infection in a cat with Bowen-like disease and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

A cutaneous mass in the neck was excised in a 13-year-old cat. Histopathological examination of the resected tissue revealed a multicentric squamous cell carcinoma in situ resembling Bowen's disease of man. The tumor showed a multifocal transformation to an infiltrative squamous cell carcinoma. Histological and immunohistological findings excluded actinic keratosis and feline viral plaques and allowed a classification as an irregular non-hyperkeratotic type of multicentric squamous cell carcinoma in situ. As a possible causative agent feline papillomavirus type 2 was detected using nested PCR in formalin-fixed material.