Mast cell tumors in cats - Symptoms, treatment and prognosis

Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 18 February 2021
Update Date: 18 May 2024
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Mast Cells Tumors in Cats
Video: Mast Cells Tumors in Cats

Content

Mast cell tumors in cats can present in two different forms: cutaneous and visceral. Cutaneous mast cell tumor is the most frequent and is the second type of malignant cancer more prevalent in cats. Visceral mast cell tumors occur mainly in the spleen, although it can also occur in other places, such as the intestine.

Diagnosis is made by cytology or biopsy in cases of cutaneous mast cell tumors, and by cytology, blood test and imaging diagnosis in visceral mast cell tumors. Treatment is by surgery in both cases, although in certain types of visceral mast cell tumors it is not indicated, using chemotherapy and supportive drugs to improve the quality of life of cats with mast cell tumors. Continue reading this PeritoAnimal article to learn more about mast cell tumor, its symptoms, treatment and prognosis.


What is mast cell tumor in cats

Mastocytoma is one of the types of tumors that can affect cats that consists of a exaggerated mast cell multiplication. Mast cells are cells that originate in the bone marrow from hematopoietic precursors and can be found in the skin, connective tissue, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory tract.

Are defensive cells first-line against infectious agents and their granules contain substances that mediate allergic and inflammatory reactions, such as histamine, TNF-α, IL-6, proteases, etc.

When a tumor of these cells occurs, the substances contained in their granules are released in an exaggerated way, causing local or systemic effects which can lead to many different clinical signs depending on their location.


Types of feline mast cell tumors

In cats, mast cell tumors can be cutaneous, when located on the skin; or visceral, when located in the internal viscera.

Cutaneous mast cell tumor

It is the second malignant tumor most frequently in cats and the fourth among all feline tumors. Siamese cats seem more likely to suffer from cutaneous mast cell tumors. They exist two ways of cutaneous mast cell tumors according to their histological characteristics:

  • mastocytosis: occurs mainly in cats over 9 years old and divides into a compact form (the most frequent and benign, up to 90% of cases) and a diffuse form (more malignant, infiltrating and causing metastasis).
  • Histiocytic: Occurs between 2 and 10 years.

visceral mast cell tumor

These mast cell tumors can be found in parenchymal organs like:


  • Spleen (most frequent).
  • Small intestine.
  • Mediastinal lymph nodes.
  • Mesenteric lymph nodes.

Especially affect older cats among 9 and 13 years old deity.

Symptoms of mast cell tumors in cats

depending on the type of feline mast cell tumor, symptoms may vary, as we will see below.

Symptoms of cutaneous mast cell tumors in cats

Cutaneous mast cell tumors in cats can be single or multiple masses (20% of cases). They can be found on the head, neck, chest or limbs, among others.

Consisting of nodules which are usually:

  • Defined.
  • 0.5-3 cm in diameter.
  • Not pigmented or pink.

Others clinical signs that may appear in the tumor area are:

  • Erythema.
  • Superficial ulceration.
  • Intermittent itching.
  • Self-injuries.
  • Inflammation.
  • Subcutaneous edema.
  • Anaphylactic reaction.

Histiocytic mast cell nodules usually disappear spontaneously.

Symptoms of visceral mast cell tumors in cats

Cats with visceral mast cell tumors show signs of systemic disease, like:

  • Vomiting.
  • Depression.
  • Anorexia.
  • Weight loss.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Hyporexia.
  • Difficulty breathing if there is pleural effusion.
  • Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen size).
  • Ascites.
  • Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver).
  • Anemia (14-70%).
  • Mastocytosis (31-100%).

When a cat presents changes in the spleen, such as enlargement, nodules, or general organ involvement, the first thing to think about is a mast cell tumor.

Diagnosis of feline mast cell tumor

The diagnosis will depend on the type of mast cell tumor that the veterinarian suspects the feline may suffer from.

Diagnosis of cutaneous mast cell tumor in cats

Cutaneous mast cell tumors in cats are suspected when a nodule with the characteristics described above appears, being confirmed by a cytology or biopsy.

Histicitic mast cell tumor is the most difficult to diagnose by cytology due to its cellular characteristics, vague granularity and the presence of lymphoid cells.

It should be taken into account that, in feline eosinophilic granuloma, mast cells may also appear, which may result in a incorrect diagnosis.

Diagnosis of visceral mast cell tumors in cats

O differential diagnosis of feline visceral mast cell tumors, especially that of the spleen, includes the following processes:

  • Splenite.
  • Accessory spleen.
  • Hemangiosarcoma.
  • Nodular hyperplasia.
  • Lymphoma.
  • Myeloproliferative disease.

Blood count, biochemistry and imaging tests are essential to diagnose visceral mast cell tumors:

  • Blood test: on blood test, mastocytosis and anemia may be suspected. Especially the presence of mastocytosis, which is characteristic of this process in cats.
  • Abdominal ultrasound: ultrasound can detect splenomegaly or an intestinal mass and look for metastases in mesenteric lymph nodes or other organs such as the liver. It also allows you to see changes in the spleen parenchyma or nodules.
  • chest x-ray: CXR allows us to observe the state of the lungs, looking for metastases, pleural effusion or changes in the cranial mediastinum.
  • Cytology: Fine-needle aspiration cytology in the spleen or intestine can differentiate a mast cell tumor from other processes described in the differential diagnosis. If performed in pleural or peritoneal fluid, mast cells and eosinophils may be seen.

Treatment of mast cell tumors in cats

The treatment to be followed will also present some variations according to the type of mast cell tumor to be treated.

Treatment of cutaneous mast cell tumors in cats

The treatment of cutaneous mast cell tumor is performed with the removal surgery, even in cases of histiocytic forms, which tend to regress spontaneously.

The surgery is curative and must be performed by local resection, in cases of mast cells, and with more aggressive margins in diffuse cases. In general, the local removal with margins between 0.5 and 1 cm is suggested for any cutaneous mast cell tumor diagnosed by cytology or biopsy.

Recurrences in cutaneous mast cell tumors are very rare, even in incomplete removals.

Treatment of visceral mast cell tumors in cats

THE surgical removal of visceral mast cell tumor is performed in cats with an intestinal mass or spleen without metastases elsewhere. Before removal, the use of antihistamines such as cimetidine or chlorpheramine is recommended to reduce the risk of mast cell degranulation, which would cause problems such as gastrointestinal ulcers, clotting abnormalities and hypotension.

The average survival time after a splenectomy is between 12 and 19 months, but negative prognostic factors include cats with anorexia, severe weight loss, anemia, mastocythemia, and metastasis.

After surgery, it is usually administered to complementary chemotherapy with prednisolone, vinblastine or lomustine.

In cases of metastasis or systemic involvement, oral prednisolone can be used at doses of 4-8 mg/kg every 24-48 hours. If an additional chemotherapeutic agent is needed, chlorambucil can be used orally at a dose of 20 mg/m2 every two weeks.

To improve the symptoms of some cats, antihistamine drugs to reduce excess gastric acidity, nausea and the risk of gastrointestinal ulcer, antiemetics, appetite stimulants or analgesics.

Now that you know everything about feline mast cell tumors, we suggest the following video about the most common diseases in cats:

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.

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