Lymphangiosarcomas in Cats: A Retrospective Study of 12 Cases

Abstract

Abstract. Clinical, macroscopic, and histologic features of 12 lymphangiosarcomas in cats are described. Nine tumors were located in the subcutaneous tissue at the caudoventral abdominal wall (eight cats) or in the neck (one cat). The remaining three cats had lymphangiosarcomas around the cranial mesenteric artery (two cats) or precardial in the mediastinum (one cat). Macroscopically, the tumors were noncircumscribed, white, edematous, and intermixed with fat tissue. Histologic features varied from cleft-forming and cavernous growth to papilliform and solid patterns. Follow-up data were available for seven cats with subcutaneous lymphangiosarcomas. All these cats died or were euthanatized within 6 months after surgery because of poor wound healing, local recurrence, or distant metastases. The cats with abdominal or thoracic masses were either euthanatized at surgery or within 6 months after the first surgery because of recurrent chylothorax, chyloperitoneum, or distant metastases.

Lymphangiosarcoma in a 3.5-year-old Bullmastiff bitch with vaginal prolapse, primary lymph node fibrosis and other congenital defects : clinical communication

“…Lymphangiosarcoma is an extremely rare, generally aggressive malignant tumour which has been reported in humans 3,5,19,26 , only 16 dogs 1,4,8,9,[14][15][16][17][18]20,22,24,27,29 , a similar number of cats 19,11,12,25,28 , 2 horses 13,23 , and a cow 21 . Lymphangiosarcoma in dogs, with comparison with that in humans, is reviewed in a companion article 30 .…”

“…Lymphangiosarcoma in humans has also occasionally arisen following lymphoedema of other origins such as primary lymphoedema due to defects in development of the lymphatic system, or secondary to the likes of inflammatory disease, surgical procedures, trauma, idiopathic, congenital pathology or filarial infestations 5 . In most cases lymphangiosarcoma rapidly invades and infiltrates adjacent tissues and metastasises via haematogenous and lymphatic routes internally, often involving the chest, but other organs and cavities may also be involved 5,12,13,23,30 . The majority of reported feline cases, however, presented as tumours of the caudoventral abdominal wall [10][11][12]25,28 .…”

“…In most cases lymphangiosarcoma rapidly invades and infiltrates adjacent tissues and metastasises via haematogenous and lymphatic routes internally, often involving the chest, but other organs and cavities may also be involved 5,12,13,23,30 . The majority of reported feline cases, however, presented as tumours of the caudoventral abdominal wall [10][11][12]25,28 . Mean survival time after diagnosis and/or surgery is generally short in most species and the overall prognosis, as in humans, is considered poor 3 to extremely poor 26 .…”

Caudoventral abdominal lymphangiosarcoma in a cat treated with metronomic chemotherapy

“…Only 22 cases have been reported in cats, and this tumour may occur at any age without breed or sex predisposition. The most common anatomical site affected in cats is the caudal abdominal wall, as in this cat, although other regions may also be involved, such as cervical, thoracic, axillar and limbs (Walsh and Abbott 1984, Swayne and others 1989, Hinrichs and others 1999, Galeotti and others 2004, Lenard and others 2007, Sugiyama and others 2007, Jackson and others 2011). The prognosis of subcutaneous lymphangiosarcomas in cats is poor.…”

Lymphangiosarcoma in the Nictitating Membrane of a Horse

“…5 It occurs in various species and is most frequently described in dogs 16 and cats. 6 Additionally, single cases are reported in horses 7,12 and cattle. 11 In domestic animals, lymphangiosarcomas tend to be localized in the subcutis along the ventral midline and limbs.…”