A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE SONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF ABDOMINAL CARCINOMATOSIS IN 14 CATS

A retrospective review was performed on 14 cats with histology- or cytology-proven carcinomatosis. The mean age was 12.7 years with a median of 11 years. The diagnosis of carcinomatosis was made by histology in 11 cats and cytology in three cats. Twelve cats had cytologic examination of the peritoneal free fluid and seven cats (58.3%) had evidence of malignant cells. The primary tumor site was determined in 13 cats. The most common organ locations for the primary tumor were the liver (n = 5), pancreas (n = 3), and small intestine (n = 3). Other sites were stomach and spleen in one cat each. Epithelial cell neoplasia was the primary tumor type in 11 cats. Two cats had abdominal lymphomatosis and one cat had abdominal sarcomatosis secondary to metastatic hemangiosarcoma. Free peritoneal fluid and masses in the connecting peritoneum were found in all cats (100%). Additional findings included primary or metastatic masses in abdominal organs in 10 cats (71.4%), lymph node enlargement in five cats (35.7%), pleural effusion in three cats (21.4%), parietal peritoneal masses in two cats (14.3%), and visceral peritoneal masses in one cat (7.1%). Masses in the connecting peritoneal may be a very specific finding for carcinomatosis in cats, especially with a concurrent abdominal neoplastic mass. Parietal and visceral peritoneal masses, while uncommon in this series of cats, have not been reported for other diseases and seem to strongly support a diagnosis of carcinomatosis.