Feline paraneoplastic alopecia associated with metastasising intestinal carcinoma

Abstract

Case summaryA 10-year-old male neutered British Shorthair cat was presented with a 6 month history of lethargy, weight loss and alopecia. Clinical examination revealed widespread alopecia of the ventral abdomen and hindlimbs. The skin in these areas was smooth and shiny and hairs could be easily epilated. Spontaneous pruritus was observed. Cytological examination of superficial impression smears showed a severe Malassezia species dermatitis and pyoderma. Ectoparasites could not be detected and no sign of dermatophytosis was visible in trichograms and Wood’s lamp analysis. Abdominal ultrasound found a focally thickened wall of the large intestine and multiple nodules in the liver. Fine-needle aspirates from lymph nodes, liver and altered colonic wall were consistent with an undifferentiated malignant neoplasia. The cat was euthanased at the owners’ request, owing to potential neoplasia with metastatic spread. At necropsy a metastasising carcinoma of the colonic wall was found, as well as a paraneoplastic alopecia.Relevance and novel informationFeline paraneoplastic alopecia has been reported in association with pancreatic carcinoma, bile duct carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as with neuroendocrine pancreatic carcinoma and hepatosplenic plasma cell tumour. This is the first reported case of feline paraneoplastic alopecia associated with a colon carcinoma.

Biology, diagnosis and treatment ofMalasseziadermatitis in dogs and cats Clinical Consensus Guidelines of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology

“…Feline paraneoplastic alopecia is a clinically distinct disease that occurs secondary to carcinoma of the liver, bile duct, intestine and pancreas, as well as with a neuroendocrine pancreatic carcinoma and hepatosplenic plasma cell tumour . The typical clinical presentation is of ventral alopecia with inelastic, thin, smooth and shiny but not fragile skin; adjacent hairs can be easily epilated.…”

“…Limbs, paws and ears may be variably affected and dry crusting and fissuring of the footpads is occasionally noted. It is a non‐pruritic disease unless there is significant secondary Malassezia (or bacterial) infection, usually manifest by crusts and brown exudate . Systemic azoles (itraconazole 5–10 mg/kg once daily and ketoconazole 5 mg/kg twice daily) have been used in a limited number of cases to successfully treat concurrent Malassezia infections, resulting in reduced pruritus, better quality of life and reduction of inflammatory changes on histopathology, albeit without improving the poor prognosis associated with frequently metastatic neoplasia …”

Síndromes Paraneoplásicas Em Cães E Gatos: Revisão De Literatura – Parte 2

“…A alopecia paraneoplásica felina (APF) é uma condição rara listada entre as SPN cutâneas, que ocorre em associação com carcinoma pancreático, colangiocarcinoma, carcinoma hepatocelular e carcinoma intestinal metastático (Grandt et al 2015;Caporali et al 2016).…”

Skin as a marker of general feline health: Cutaneous manifestations of systemic disease

“…The small area of erosion dorsally was produced during skin scraping Characteristic changes (follicular atrophy with miniaturisation of hair bulbs, compact orthokeratotic and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis) are frequently present on histopathology from skin biopsies; 18 however, evaluation of systemic disease is often more prudent.…”