title: Outcome of cats with low-grade lymphocytic lymphoma: 41 cases (1995-2005).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate factors associated with response to treatment, remission duration, and survival in cats with low-grade lymphoma affecting various organ systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  41 cats with histologically confirmed low-grade lymphocytic lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records and biopsy specimens of cats with histologically confirmed low-grade lymphocytic lymphoma of various organ systems treated with prednisone and chlorambucil between 1995 and 2005 were reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate remission duration and survival. Factors potentially associated with prognosis were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Common clinical signs were weight loss (83%), vomiting (73%), anorexia (66%), and diarrhea (58%). Seventy-eight percent of cats tested had low serum cobalamin concentrations. Lymphoma was confined to the gastrointestinal tract in 68% of cats. Fifty-six percent of cats achieved a complete response to treatment, and 39% achieved a partial response. Five percent of cats had no response. No association was found between any risk factors (including anatomic site) and response to treatment. Partial response was associated with shorter remission duration, compared with complete response; median remission duration was 428 days for cats achieving a partial response, compared with 897 days for cats achieving a complete response. No other factors were associated with remission duration. Overall median survival time was 704 days. No factors were significantly associated with survival time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most cats with lymphocytic lymphoma responded to treatment with prednisone and chlorambucil, and most factors evaluated were not associated with outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kiselow
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rassnick
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Tristan K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Weinkle
authors.forename: Hollis N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Erb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D002699:Chlorambucil; D011241:Prednisone