Uterine adenocarcinoma with abdominal metastases in an ovariohysterectomised cat

SURGICAL FINDINGS: an adenocarcinoma of the uterine stump with abdominal metastases is described in a 12.5-year-old incompletely ovariohysterectomised domestic shorthair cat. At the time of presentation, the adenocarcinoma had metastasised to the right perirenal lymph node, the abdominal aorta and the right ureter, resulting in the formation of a large cystic structure. This had compressed and displaced surrounding structures, including the abdominal vena cava and the right kidney, and formed multiple adhesions to the body wall and adjacent abdominal structures. Metastatic extension to the aorta had resulted in its regression into a 2 mm diameter non-pulsatile vessel. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: only one case of uterine adenocarcinoma has previously been reported in an ovariohysterectomised cat. As such, this represents a very unusual and severe complication following an incomplete ovariohysterectomy. Invasion of the tumour tissue into surrounding structures created further complications.