title: Curettage and diathermy: a treatment for feline nasal planum actinic dysplasia and superficial squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate curettage and diathermy as a treatment for actinic dysplasia and superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the feline nasal planum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four cats clinically assessed to have actinic dysplasia and superficial squamous cell carcinoma involving less than 50% of the nasal planum were treated with a three-cycle curettage and diathermy procedure. Degree of dysplasia, response to treatment, adverse effects, owner perceptions, time to recurrence and proportion disease free at 1 year were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lesions ranged from actinic keratoses to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. A complete response to treatment was obtained in all cats. The median follow-up time was 18 · 2 (IQR: 12 · 0-22 · 8) months. Two cats had a clinical recurrence of lesions at 161 and 192 days after treatment. The probability of remaining disease free after 12 months was 0 · 94 (95% CI: 0 · 85-1 · 0). Median time to recurrence was not reached. The procedure was well tolerated with a good cosmetic outcome and no significant post-operative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that curettage and diathermy is an effective treatment for feline actinic dysplasia and for superficial squamous cell carcinoma involving less than 50% of the nasal planum. Curettage and diathermy is an easily mastered technique, requiring minimal equipment.
authors: Pukekohe Veterinary Centre, 11 Edinburgh St, Pukekohe, 2120, New Zealand.
authors: R H
authors: RH
authors: Jarrett
authors: E J
authors: EJ
authors: Norman
authors: I R
authors: IR
authors: Gibson
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Jarrett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D003475:Curettage / Q000662:veterinary; D003972:Diathermy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000662:veterinary; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome