title: Musculoskeletal neoplasia: an important differential for lumps or lameness in the cat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Musculoskeletal neoplasia is an uncommon but Important differential diagnosis for cats presenting with lameness, pain or swellings associated with bones and/or soft tissues. The most common tumours of soft tissue origin are the sarcomas (in particular feline injection site sarcomas [FISSs]); the most common bone tumour of the cat is osteosarcoma (OSA).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  FISSs present a clinical challenge in terms of their local invasiveness, difficulty in obtaining complete surgical excision and high risk of local recurrence. Axial and extraskeletal OSAs pose similar challenges, whereas appendicular OSA is usually easy to remove via limb amputation and can, therefore, carry a good prognosis in many cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cats of any age, gender or breed may be affected, although bone tumours predominantly affect middle- to old-aged cats.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Vaccination of cats is of global importance in preventing feline diseases; hence, any possible significant consequences of vaccination such as neoplasia, even of a low incidence, are of huge concern to cat owners and veterinarians alike.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review is based on current literature relating to pathogenesis, pathology, presentation, diagnosis, staging, treatment and prognosis. It aims to summarise feline musculoskeletal neoplasia for clinicians in general practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. Jenny.Helm@glasgow.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*