title: Feline alimentary lymphoma: 2. Further diagnostics, therapy and prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accurate diagnosis of the distinct subtypes of alimentary lymphoma (AL) that occur in cats is important as there are major differences between them in clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis. Unlike intermediate- and high-grade alimentary lymphoma (I/HGAL) and large granular lymphocyte lymphoma (LGLL), which can often be diagnosed by aspiration cytology, full-thickness intestinal biopsies are usually required for the diagnosis of low-grade alimentary lymphoma (LGAL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  LGAL is an increasingly recognised clinical problem and it can be challenging to differentiate from inflammatory disease. Where there is ambiguity on histology, further diagnostics (immunophenotyping and clonality analysis) may be required. The diagnosis of LGLL requires an index of suspicion as it may be missed with routine diagnostics. While cats with LGAL typically achieve durable remissions with oral prednisolone and chlorambucil, I/HGAL runs a more aggressive clinical course and requires multi-agent chemotherapeutic protocols. Information on the treatment of LGLL is limited and this form of AL has the poorest prognosis. Preliminary studies suggest that abdominal irradiation may potentially be of benefit in cats with AL and further investigations are warranted.
  
  
  METHODS
  The evidence supporting this review is derived from grade II, III and IV prospective studies, retrospective case series, reviews, extrapolation from other species, pathophysiological justification and the combined clinical experience of those working in the field.
authors.affiliation: Valentine Charlton Cat Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia. vanessa.barrs@sydney.edu.au
authors.forename: Vanessa R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Barrs
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Beatty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011379:Prognosis