Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Mammary tumours in the cat: size matters, so early intervention saves lives.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Morris, Joanna
- Affiliation:
- School of Veterinary Medicine · United Kingdom
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Mammary tumors are quite common in cats, especially in older female cats, and they tend to be more aggressive than in dogs. If a cat has a mammary tumor, the size of the tumor is very important because larger tumors are usually more serious. Early detection and treatment are crucial, as surgery can remove the tumor, but chemotherapy hasn't been shown to help cats live longer. While male cats can get these tumors, it's very rare, and certain breeds like Siamese and Oriental cats may be more likely to develop them. Overall, the best chance for a good outcome is to catch these tumors early and treat them promptly.
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Mammary tumours are among the most common neoplasms in both cats and dogs, but the prevalence of malignant histological types is far higher in cats (ratio of malignant:benign is at least 4:1). CLINICAL CHALLENGES: The more aggressive nature of mammary neoplasia in cats poses challenges for management. Prognosis is affected by tumour size and, therefore, early recognition and treatment of mammary tumours is paramount. Although the primary tumour can be excised surgically, no studies have shown that chemotherapy significantly extends survival time; hence, metastatic spread remains an important clinical problem. PATIENT GROUP: Mammary tumours usually affect older female cats, mainly entire females. Siamese and Oriental breeds may be predisposed. Male cats can develop mammary neoplasia, but this is rare. EVIDENCE BASE: This review summarises the current literature relating to aetiology, pathology, presentation, diagnosis, staging, treatment and prognosis of feline mammary tumours.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23603502/