Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hair loss in two cats linked to rare pancreatic and liver tumors
By Caporali, Chiara et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2016·Private Practitioner, Italy·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Two cases of feline paraneoplastic alopecia associated with a neuroendocrine pancreatic neoplasia and a hepatosplenic plasma cell tumour.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old Persian cat and a 12-year-old domestic short hair cat both developed unusual skin problems, specifically hair loss and shiny skin, which were linked to serious underlying tumors. The Persian cat had a neuroendocrine tumor in the pancreas, while the domestic short hair had a plasma cell tumor in the spleen. The cats showed rapid hair loss and changes in their skin, prompting further testing that confirmed the tumors. Recognizing the connection between these tumors and the skin issues is important for diagnosis and treatment.
People also search for: cat hair loss causes · feline skin problems · pancreatic tumor in cats · cat plasma cell tumor symptoms
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Feline paraneoplastic alopecia (FPA) is a rare condition listed among the cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes, which occurs in association with pancreatic carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic intestinal carcinoma. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinicopathological findings of paraneoplastic alopecia in two cats each with an uncommon tumour not previously reported in association with FPA. ANIMALS: Paraneoplastic alopecia was associated with neuroendocrine pancreatic neoplasia in a Persian cat and with a hepatosplenic plasma cell tumour in a domestic short hair cat. RESULTS: FPA was suspected based on age, rapid onset of clinical signs, ventral distribution of alopecia, shiny appearance of the skin and telogenization/miniaturization of the follicles on histopathology. The nature of the tumours was determined through cytology, postmortem, histopathological and immunohistochemical examination, and capillary immunoelectrophoresis. A causative association between the skin lesions and the tumour was suggested by clinical and histopathological features shared with previously published cases. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Pancreatic neuroendocrine and plasma cell tumour should be considered as differential diagnoses when evaluating FPA.
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/27604415/