Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiation treatment for advanced facial skin cancer in cats
By Swan, Michaela B et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2021·Oncology Department, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pilot study evaluating stereotactic body radiation therapy for feline facial squamous cell carcinomas.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of five cats with advanced facial squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer caused by sun exposure) received a specialized radiation treatment called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). This treatment involved delivering high doses of radiation in three sessions over a few days. While all the cats experienced some temporary side effects like hair loss and skin redness, they all remained alive and healthy for up to 991 days after treatment. The study suggests that SBRT is a safe and effective option for managing this type of cancer in cats.
People also search for: cat facial cancer treatment · feline squamous cell carcinoma radiation · cat skin cancer survival rate
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has not been assessed in advanced-stage feline solar-induced facial squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The objective of this study was to provide preliminary data on the use and safety profile of coarse fractions administered with an SBRT regime to manage advanced-stage feline solar-induced facial SCCs. METHODS: This retrospective study assessed five cats diagnosed with advanced-stage solar-induced facial SCCs that received SBRT as their primary treatment or, in one cat, following failed surgical intervention. Tumour sites received three fractions totalling 26.25-27 Gy over a 3-5-day period. RESULTS: All patients developed acute effects following SBRT including alopecia, epilation and erythema. Late effects were mild and included alopecia, variable pigmentation and leukotrichia within radiation fields. All patients were alive at the time of article submission, with overall survival times ranging from 118 to 991 days. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results suggest that coarse fractions administered with an SBRT technique is a safe and effective treatment tool for the management of advanced-stage feline solar-induced facial SCCs. These data provide preliminary evidence to support larger, prospective studies evaluating the management of feline facial SCCs with SBRT.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33615873/