Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Outcomes and complications after jaw and tongue removal in cats
By Iwata, Taisuke et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative oncology·2025·Japan Small Animal Medical Center, Japan·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: The Outcomes and Surgical Complications of Cats With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated With Total Glosso-Mandibulectomy: 20 Cases (2008-2022).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 20 cats diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (a type of mouth cancer) underwent a major surgery called total glosso-mandibulectomy, which involves removing parts of the tongue and jaw. Most of these cats faced complications after surgery, including swelling and some needing help with breathing. Despite these challenges, none of the cats died during recovery, and many lived for over a year after the surgery. Ongoing care, like feeding through a special tube and keeping their mouths clean, was necessary for their well-being. The surgery showed promise for extending their lives, especially when the cancer was removed effectively.
People also search for: cat mouth cancer treatment · feline oral squamous cell carcinoma surgery · cat feeding tube care · cat cancer survival rates
Abstract
Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is the most common oral malignancy in cats. In general, FOSCC develops rapidly and is highly locally invasive. The existing treatments for treating FOSCC are limited. The objective of this single-centre retrospective cohort study was to report the prognosis and surgical complications in cats that underwent total glosso-mandibulectomy (TGM) for feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC). We investigated the medical records of 20 cats diagnosed with FOSCC by histopathologic examination and treated with TGM. The locations of FOSCC were in the mandible and tongue in 12 and 8 cats, respectively. All cats underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Postoperative complications of TGM were observed in 18 (90.0%) cats; incisional swelling was noted in 11 cats, including three cats with airway obstruction requiring management by tracheal intubation for several days. Postoperative anaemia was observed in 10 cats; two cats required blood transfusions. No cats died during the postoperative period. Progression-free interval (PFI) and overall survival time (OST) were 914 and 533 days, respectively. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 50.2% and 37.8%, respectively. On univariate analysis, only histopathologic margin was associated with PFI and OST. TGM was successful in achieving long-term survival for FOSCC. Conversely, lifelong nutritional support via a gastrostomy tube and routine home care, including the removal of secretions from the palate and throat, was needed. There were no perioperative deaths, but serious complications occurred in some cats. The histopathologic margin was an important prognostic factor.
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/39929485/