Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Thyroid cysts causing neck lumps in 40 hyperthyroid cats
By Miller, M L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2017·Department of Clinical Science, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Thyroid Cysts in Cats: A Retrospective Study of 40 Cases.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old domestic shorthair cat was brought in for a noticeable lump in its neck and had been losing weight. After testing, the vet found that the cat had thyroid cysts, which are rare in cats, and it was also hyperthyroid (an overactive thyroid). The cat was treated with radioiodine, which successfully resolved the hyperthyroidism in 92% of cases, but only half of the cysts shrank. For some cats, surgery to remove the cysts was necessary, especially if they were causing problems.
People also search for: cat neck lump · hyperthyroid cat treatment · thyroid cysts in cats · cat weight loss and appetite issues · cat thyroid surgery risks
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thyroid cysts are rare in cats and poorly documented. OBJECTIVES: To report distinguishing clinical features and treatment responses of cats with thyroid cysts. ANIMALS: Forty client-owned cats. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records for cats with thyroid cysts confirmed by scintigraphy, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, or necropsy at 4 referral centers between 2005 and 2016. Signalment, clinical findings, diagnostic testing, treatment, and outcome were recorded. RESULTS: Cats ranged in age from 8 to 20 years with no apparent breed or sex predilection. 37 of 40 (93%) cats were hyperthyroid (duration, 1-96 months). Clinical findings included palpable neck mass (40/40, 100%), weight loss (15/40, 38%), dysphagia (8/40, 20%), decreased appetite (5/40, 13%), and dyspnea (4/40, 10%). Cysts were classified as small (≤8 cm) in 16 (40%) and large (>8 cm) in 24 (60%) cats. Of 25 cats treated with radioiodine, hyperthyroidism resolved in 23 (92%), whereas thyroid cysts resolved in 12 (50%). Radioiodine treatment resolved small cysts in 8 of 13 (62%) cats and large cysts in 4 of 11 (36%) cats. Eight cats, including 2 euthyroid cats, underwent thyroid-cystectomy; 3 with bilateral thyroid involvement were euthanized postoperatively for hypocalcemia. Excised cystic thyroid masses were identified as cystadenoma (4) and carcinoma (4). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Thyroid cysts are encountered in hyperthyroid and euthyroid cats with benign and malignant thyroid tumors. Radioiodine treatment alone inconsistently resolved thyroid cysts. Thyroid-cystectomy could be considered in cats with unilateral thyroid disease or when symptomatic cysts persist despite successful radioiodine treatment of hyperthyroidism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28382700/