Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline alimentary lymphoma: demystifying the enigma.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Wilson, Heather M
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Alimentary lymphoma is a type of cancer that is commonly found in cats, and its occurrence has been rising over the last 15 years, especially since the decline of feline leukemia. There are two main types of this lymphoma: small-cell lymphoma, which is less aggressive, and large-cell lymphoma, which is more aggressive. Diagnosing and treating these conditions can be tricky because they can look similar to other gastrointestinal issues, like inflammatory bowel disease. This article aims to provide a clear guide on how to diagnose, stage, and treat this complex disease. Overall, the treatment and management of feline alimentary lymphoma can be quite challenging.
Abstract
Alimentary lymphoma is one of the most commonly diagnosed neoplasms of the cat. The incidence of this disease has increased significantly over the past 15 years during the post-feline leukemia era. Despite the common prevalence of this disease, appropriate diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. There are two main forms of feline alimentary lymphoma: the small-cell (lymphocytic, well-differentiated, low-grade) lymphoma variety and the large-cell (lymphoblastic, high-grade) lymphoma variety. These two diseases are related; however, each presents its own diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Additionally, it can be difficult to differentiate these malignancies from other nonneoplastic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and other chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this article is to tackle the challenges of this allusive disease with a step-by-step approach to diagnosis, staging, and therapy.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19081551/