Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline injection-site sarcoma: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2015
- Authors:
- Hartmann, Katrin et al.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
In cats, a serious concern after vaccinations is the development of a type of cancer called feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS), which usually appears at the site where the vaccine was given. These tumors are more aggressive than similar tumors found in other parts of the body and can spread to other areas in about 10-28% of cases. While the exact cause of these tumors isn't fully understood, they are thought to be linked to long-lasting inflammation caused by certain injections, especially those with adjuvants (substances that enhance the immune response). To prevent FISS, it's recommended to use vaccines that are less likely to cause irritation and to avoid giving injections in areas where surgery would be difficult if a tumor were to develop. If a cat does develop FISS, aggressive surgery combined with treatments like radiation or immunotherapy can improve the chances of a better outcome.
Abstract
OVERVIEW: In cats, the most serious of adverse effects following vaccination is the occurrence of invasive sarcomas (mostly fibrosarcomas): so-called 'feline injection-site sarcomas' (FISSs). These develop at sites of previous vaccination or injection. They have characteristics that are distinct from those of fibrosarcomas in other areas and behave more aggressively. The rate of metastasis ranges from 10-28%. PATHOGENESIS: The pathogenesis of these sarcomas is not yet definitively explained. However, chronic inflammatory reactions are considered the trigger for subsequent malignant transformation. Injections of long-acting drugs (such as glucocorticoids, and others) have been associated with sarcoma formation. Adjuvanted vaccines induce intense local inflammation and seem therefore to be particularly linked to the development of FISS. The risk is lower for modified-live and recombinant vaccines, but no vaccine is risk-free. TREATMENT AND PREVENTION: Aggressive, radical excision is required to avoid tumour recurrence. The prognosis improves if additional radiotherapy and/or immunotherapy (such as recombinant feline IL-2) are used. For prevention, administration of any irritating substance should be avoided. Vaccination should be performed as often as necessary, but as infrequently as possible. Non-adjuvanted, modified-live or recombinant vaccines should be selected in preference to adjuvanted vaccines. Injections should be given at sites at which surgery would likely lead to a complete cure; the interscapular region should generally be avoided. Post-vaccination monitoring should be performed.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26101312/