Feline visceral hemangiosarcoma.
BACKGROUND
Feline visceral hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an uncommon tumor, and the clinical progression and outcome are rarely reported.


OBJECTIVE
The prognosis of feline visceral HSA is poor because of severe clinical signs, anemia, and a high rate of metastasis.


METHODS
The medical records of 26 client-owned cats with visceral HSA were reviewed.


METHODS
Multi-institutional retrospective study.


RESULTS
The most common historical findings and clinical signs included lethargy, anorexia, respiratory difficulty, collapse, and vocalizing. Eighty-two percent of cats were anemic, and aspartate transaminase was increased in 53% of the study population. Metastatic lung disease was noted in 33% of affected cats. In 75% of the cats, abdominal ultrasonography identified a specific location of HSA. However, ultrasound identification of all multifocal lesions was successful only in 3/9 cats (33%). Tumor location was identified in the following organs: liver (35%), small intestine (31%), large intestine (31%), abdominal lymph node (31%), mesentery (27%), spleen (23%), lung (19%), omentum (12%), brain (8%), pancreas (8%), and diaphragm (8%). Multifocal HSA was noted in 77% of cats. Three cats received adjuvant chemotherapy (doxorubicin). Seventy-one percent of euthanized cats were euthanized within 1 day of diagnosis. The median survival time of the remaining cats (n = 6) was 77 days (range, 23-296 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Feline visceral HSA is most often multifocal at the time of diagnosis. The prognosis appears poor, and the number of cats receiving chemotherapy is low.
Culp
W T N
WT
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. wculp@vet.upenn.edu
Drobatz
K J
KJ
Glassman
M M
MM
Baez
J L
JL
Aronson
L R
LR
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents