Computed tomographic features of oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats: 18 cases (2002-2008).
OBJECTIVE
To describe the computed tomographic features of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cats and identify imaging characteristics associated with survival time.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
18 cats with a diagnosis of oral SCC.


METHODS
Information on history; clinical, laboratory, and diagnostic imaging findings; treatment; and survival time was obtained from medical records of 18 cats with oral SCC. Computed tomography (CT) studies were examined to identify features associated with oral SCC. The association of CT features with survival time was evaluated.


RESULTS
On CT images, SCC was centered at the following sites: sublingual or lingual region (n = 7), maxilla (5), buccal mucosa (4), mandible (4), pharyngeal mucosa (2), soft palate mucosa (1), and lip (1). These results were in agreement with the results of oral examination for all sites, except the soft palate (CT, 1 cat; oral examination, 4 cats). On CT images, extension of maxillary masses was most often observed to affect the orbit (5 cats). Heterogeneous contrast enhancement was most commonly identified (8/18). Osteolytic mass lesions were identified on CT images in 9 cats. None of the quantitative CT features that were identified, including mass size, attenuation, or lymph node width, were correlated with survival time.


CONCLUSIONS
Common CT features of oral SCC in cats included sublingual and maxillary locations, marked heterogeneous contrast enhancement, and osteolysis. Computed tomography may be used to determine mass extension and lymph node enlargement, but results did not correlate with survival time.
Gendler
Andrew
A
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA. agendler@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
Lewis
John R
JR
Reetz
Jennifer A
JA
Schwarz
Tobias
T
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D059408:Pain Management; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000518:Eflornithine