Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiation therapy used to treat pancreatic tumor in a cat
By Gaitan-Cobo, Alba L et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2021·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of stereotactic body radiation therapy for treatment of a pancreatic tumor in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 16-year-old male domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet because he was drinking a lot, urinating frequently, and losing weight over two months. Tests showed a mass in his pancreas, initially thought to be a neuroendocrine tumor. The cat received stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to treat the tumor, which resulted in a partial size reduction after eight months. However, the tumor later grew, and a new diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic carcinoma was made. The cat was treated with carboplatin, which helped resolve some symptoms, but he was ultimately euthanized due to weakness 589 days after starting treatment.
People also search for: cat weight loss and increased thirst · cat pancreatic tumor treatment · exocrine pancreatic carcinoma in cats · stereotactic body radiation therapy for cats
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 16-year old castrated male domestic shorthair cat was evaluated at a veterinary teaching hospital because of polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss of 2 months' duration. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Hematologic and biochemical examination results were within respective reference ranges except for moderately high pancreas-specific lipase concentration. Ultrasonographic and cytologic evaluation revealed a hepatic mass with findings consistent with mild cholestasis and inflammation and a pancreatic mass that was initially identified as a neuroendocrine tumor. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The cat underwent additional CT assessment and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT; 3 fractions of 8 Gy, administered every other day) for treatment of the pancreatic tumor. Follow-up ultrasonographic and CT examinations indicated a partial response to SBRT, with a maximum CT-measured size reduction from 3.6 × 4.8 × 4.0 cm at the time of treatment planning to 2.0 × 2.0 × 1.9 cm 8 months later. Increased pancreatic tumor size and signs of carcinomatosis were detected 15 months after SBRT treatment; the initial cytologic diagnosis was changed to exocrine pancreatic carcinoma on reevaluation of the slides by another veterinary pathologist. Carboplatin treatment was elected, and signs of carcinomatosis resolved. The cat was euthanized without further testing because of weakness 589 days after SBRT was started. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of SBRT for suspected exocrine pancreatic carcinoma in a cat. Further investigation is needed to determine optimal fractionation schedules for SBRT of pancreatic tumors and utility of SBRT of exocrine pancreatic carcinoma in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34227865/