Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using infrared fluorescence to find and remove cat liposarcoma tumors
By Kim, Jihun et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2025·Department of Veterinary Surgery, South Korea·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Intraoperative visualization of feline liposarcoma using short-wave infrared fluorescence imaging and indocyanine green.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old domestic short hair cat was brought in with a firm mass on its chest that was thought to be a harmless lipoma (fatty tumor). During surgery, a special dye was used to help the veterinarian see the mass more clearly, revealing that it was actually a well-differentiated liposarcoma (a type of cancer). Both the lipoma and the cancerous mass were removed successfully. The cat recovered well and has shown no signs of the cancer returning after 11 months. This case demonstrates how advanced imaging can help veterinarians identify and treat tumors more effectively.
People also search for: cat chest mass · feline liposarcoma treatment · cat surgery recovery · what is a lipoma in cats
Abstract
A 9-year-old domestic short hair cat presented with a firm thoracic mass suspected to be a lipoma. Preoperative indocyanine green was administered intravenously at a dose of 5 mg/kg for short-wave infrared fluorescence imaging. Intraoperatively, a plaque-like lipoma overlaid a subjacent mass that exhibited strong fluorescence. Both were excised, and histopathology confirmed the subjacent mass as a well-differentiated liposarcoma. The cat recovered uneventfully with no recurrence at 11 months. This case highlights the utility of short-wave infrared fluorescence imaging in distinguishing benign from malignant tissues intraoperatively and enabling precise resection. To our knowledge, this is the first report of feline liposarcoma identified through short-wave infrared fluorescence imaging, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool in veterinary oncology.
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/40500172/