Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Outcomes after surgical amputation of cat toes with tumors
By Wobeser, B K et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2007·Department of Veterinary Pathology, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnoses and clinical outcomes associated with surgically amputated feline digits submitted to multiple veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats had their toes amputated due to various health issues, and most of these cases were linked to cancer. Out of 85 amputated digits examined, 63 were found to have malignant tumors, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most common type. The average survival time for cats with these tumors was about 73 days. The study highlights the importance of sending amputated digits for testing to understand the underlying problems and predict outcomes better.
People also search for: cat toe amputation cancer · squamous cell carcinoma in cats · cat digit removal recovery time
Abstract
Amputation is commonly performed in an attempt to both treat and diagnose conditions affecting the digits of cats. The records of multiple veterinary diagnostic laboratories were searched to identify submissions of amputated digits from cats. Eighty-five separate submissions were reviewed for diagnosis, age, sex, limb of origin, and digits affected; and the original submitting clinics were surveyed to determine clinical outcome. The Kaplan-Meier product-limit method was used to determine the disease-free interval and survival time. Neoplastic disease was identified in 63 of 85 submissions, with exclusively inflammatory lesions composing the other 22 cases. In 60 (95.2%) of the neoplastic cases, a malignant tumor was identified. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most commonly identified malignant tumor (n = 15; 23.8%) and was associated with a median survival time of 73 days. Other diagnoses included fibrosarcoma (n = 14; 22.2%); adenocarcinoma, likely metastases of a primary pulmonary neoplasm (n = 13; 20.6%); osteosarcoma (n = 5; 7.9%); mast cell tumor (n = 4; 6.3%); hemangiosarcoma (n = 5; 7.9%); malignant fibrous histiocytoma (n = 2; 3.2%); giant cell tumor of bone (n = 2; 3.2%); and hemangioma (n = 2; 3.2%). Giant cell tumor of bone has not been previously described in the digits of cats. Various neoplasms can occur in the digits of cats, and submission of the amputated digit for histopathologic diagnosis is essential to determine the histogenesis and predict the clinical outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17491078/