Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat's ear skin cancer cleared with 5% imiquimod cream
By Peters-Kennedy, Jeanine et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2008·Department of Biomedical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Apparent clinical resolution of pinnal actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma in a cat using topical imiquimod 5% cream.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with skin lesions on its ears, diagnosed with actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma, was treated with a topical cream called imiquimod. The cat received this treatment three times a week for about 12 weeks. After the treatment, the lesions completely resolved, and there was no sign of them returning over the next five months. While the cat experienced some mild side effects like redness and crusting at the application sites, the treatment was well-tolerated. This case suggests that imiquimod could be a helpful option for cats with similar skin issues when surgery or radiation isn't possible.
People also search for: cat skin cancer treatment · squamous cell carcinoma in cats · imiquimod for cat skin lesions
Abstract
Imiquimod is a topical immune response modifier and stimulator used in humans to treat a number of cutaneous neoplasms. This case report describes a cat with actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma of the pinnae. The pinnal lesions were treated with topical 5% imiquimod three times per week. Treatment was discontinued after 82 days of therapy. Twelve weeks of topical imiquimod application resulted in clinical resolution of the pinnal lesions. Although no post-treatment biopsies were performed, there was no relapse of the pinnal lesions in 5 months of clinical follow-up. Expected side effects were limited to erythema, crusting, alopecia, and mild discomfort at the sites of application during the first 3 weeks of application. These results suggest that topical imiquimod, although unproven, might be a therapeutic option or adjunct to therapy for cats with actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma, especially those cats for whom surgery and radiation therapy are not an option.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18417398/