title: Use of the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal planum in a cat.
abstract: A mature castrated male domestic shorthair cat was referred for treatment of an excoriated, ulcerated area on the nasal planum. Undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed. Surgical resection of the nasal planum was not an option, so the lesion was treated 4 times with neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. Laser surgery results in uniform photovaporization of large volumes of tissue. Although treatment with laser does not yield tissue specimens suitable for histologic evaluation, it can result in a cosmetically suitable appearance and can extend the predicted life span. A diagnosis of undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma has a guarded prognosis: however, the cat of this report survived more than 18 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Shelley
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ely
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011379:Prognosis