Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with severe trouble breathing diagnosed with diffuse lung cancer
By Romanucci, M et al.·Published in Journal of comparative pathology·2018·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diffuse Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma with Micropapillary Growth Pattern in a Cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old female European shorthair cat was brought to the vet because she was having severe breathing problems. Tests showed she had heart disease and fluid in her chest, which led to her sudden death. A closer examination of her lungs revealed a type of cancer called diffuse pulmonary adenocarcinoma, which had a specific growth pattern that made it difficult to detect earlier. Unfortunately, the cat did not survive, but the findings helped clarify the cause of her breathing issues and heart failure.
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Abstract
A 12-year-old female European shorthair cat was presented with severe dyspnoea. Echocardiography revealed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and pleural effusion. The cat died from acute decompensated left heart failure. At necropsy examination, the lungs were diffusely congested and firm, with multifocal grey areas and sparse haemorrhages. No solid masses were detected. Histopathology revealed a diffuse neoplastic proliferation characterized by irregular growth along alveolar walls with a micropapillary pattern. Tumour cells were large, highly pleomorphic and intensely positive for pan-cytokeratin and CAM 5.2. Tumour growth was obscured by simultaneous lesions related to chronic pulmonary congestion and interstitial lung disease. Histological features were consistent with a diffuse invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma with a micropapillary pattern of tumour growth. Differential diagnosis included large cell carcinoma, which is usually characterized by rosettes or solid clusters of cells occupying alveolar lumen. Extensive cytokeratin immunolabelling was helpful in the differentiation from histiocytic proliferative disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29729719/