Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bone tumor causing spinal pain in two cats treated successfully
By Mellor, Paul J et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2007·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Solitary plasmacytoma of bone in two successfully treated cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with spinal pain and weakness in its back legs was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer called solitary plasmacytoma. After a biopsy confirmed the cancer, the cat received targeted radiation therapy, which completely resolved its symptoms, and it remained healthy for four years. Another cat with tail weakness and bone damage in the sacrum was treated with chemotherapy, which initially helped but later led to a recurrence of symptoms. After additional treatment with a different chemotherapy drug, the cat improved again but ultimately had to be euthanized six years after diagnosis due to a return of the cancer.
People also search for: cat spinal pain treatment · cat bone cancer symptoms · chemotherapy for cat cancer
Abstract
This is the first report of feline solitary plasmacytoma of bone. We describe the clinical, clinico-pathological, radiographic and pathological findings of two successfully treated cats with long-term follow-up. The first case presented with spinal pain and neurological deficits. Radiographs demonstrated sclerosis of lumbar vertebra L6 and a myelogram confirmed interference to flow of contrast in the L4-7 region. A biopsy of L6 revealed neoplastic plasma cell infiltration. There was no evidence of paraproteinaemia on serum protein electrophoresis. The cat underwent hypofractionated megavoltage radiotherapy. Clinical signs resolved completely and 4 years after diagnosis the cat remains well and has no electrophoretically detectable paraproteinaemia. The second case presented with neurological deficits of the tail and spinal radiographs revealed extensive osteolysis of the sacrum. A biopsy of sacral bone demonstrated neoplastic plasma cell infiltration. The animal was normoglobulinaemic. The cat improved clinically with induction chemotherapy (melphalan and methylprednisolone). The same chemotherapeutics were continued at maintenance doses for 4.3 years, at which time there was recurrence of neurological deficits and a palpable sacral mass. Cytological examination of a fine needle aspirate confirmed recurrence of plasma cell neoplasia. A low concentration monoclonal paraproteinaemia was detected. Vincristine was administered resulting in resolution of neurological deficits and a palpably smaller sacral mass. Eighteen months into vincristine therapy, there was recurrence of clinical signs and the cat was euthanased, more than 6 years after the initial diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16887373/