Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to generate the first life tables for the UK companion cat population overall as well as broken down by sex and breed status, and to quantify associations between mortality and traits such as sex, neuter status, breed status and body weight in relation to mortality. METHODS: Life table construction and modelling included data on 7936 confirmed deaths in cats under primary veterinary care at clinics participating in the VetCompass Programme in 2019. The life tables were built for cats overall, female and male cats, and crossbred and purebred cats. Multivariable generalised linear regression models were generated to explore the risk factors for a shortened lifespan. RESULTS: Life expectancy at age 0 for UK companion cats overall was 11.74 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.61-11.87). The probability of death at each year interval increased with age from year interval 3-4, with the probability value not exceeding 0.05 before year 9. Female cats (12.51 years; 95% CI 12.32-12.69) had a 1.33-year longer life expectancy than male cats (11.18 years; 95% CI 11.01-11.38) at age 0. Among the 12 breeds (including crossbred) analysed, Burmese and Birman had the longest life expectancy at year 0, showing 14.42 years (95% CI 12.91-15.93) and 14.39 years (95% CI 12.87-15.91), respectively. Sphynx had the shortest life expectancy at year 0 among the analysed breeds at 6.68 years (95% CI 4.53-8.83). Being entire, purebred and with a non-ideal body weight were significantly linked to a decreased lifespan. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The life tables presented here for companion cats in the UK overall, by sex, and by crossbred and purebred cats can contribute to a better understanding of the life trajectory of cats, helping with evidence-based decision-making for cat owners and the veterinary profession. We have also provided an updated life expectancy at age 0 for various cat breeds for 2019 and showed evidence of the association between non-ideal weight and a decreased lifespan.

Descriptive analysis and prognostic factors in cats with myeloma-related disorders: A multicenter retrospective study of 50 cases.

BACKGROUND: Myeloma-related disorders (MRDs) are rare and poorly documented neoplasms of cats. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical, clinicopathologic, and imaging findings, response to treatment, and survival time and to identify factors associated with shorter outcomes in cats with MRD. ANIMALS: Fifty cats with a diagnosis of MRD. METHODS: Cats with paraproteinemia confirmed by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and either intramedullary plasmacytosis >10%, marked cytonuclear atypia with intramedullary plasmacytosis that ranged between 5% and 10%, or cytologically or histologically confirmed visceral infiltration were retrospectively included from several veterinary referral centers. RESULTS: Bone marrow plasmacytosis and splenic or hepatic involvement were present in 17/27 cats (63%), 36/42 cats (86%), and 27/38 cats (71%), respectively. Anemia was reported in 33/49 cats (67%) and thrombocytopenia in 16/47 cats (34%). Some of the treatments that the cats received included melphalan and prednisolone (n = 19), cyclophosphamide and prednisolone (n = 10), chlorambucil and prednisolone (n = 4), prednisolone (n = 4), or other (n = 4). The overall response rates to melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and chlorambucil in combination with prednisolone were 87%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. Adverse events to melphalan or cyclophosphamide occurred in 65% and 23% of cats, respectively. Median survival time was 122 days (range, 0-1403) and was not significantly associated with chemotherapy protocol. Anemia (hazard ratio [HR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-9.8) and thrombocytopenia (HR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.0) were risk factors for shorter survival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Our study confirmed the guarded prognosis of MRD in cats and identified risk factors for shorter survival times.

One-year conditional survival of dogs and cats with invasive mammary carcinomas: A concept inspired from human breast cancer.

Numerous studies have described the prognostic factors of canine and feline mammary carcinomas (MCs), that is, variables that predict patient survival after diagnosis. But how does survival estimation evolve in patients that escaped early death from their cancer? In human oncology, conditional survival (CS), the probability of surviving X further years when cancer patients have already survived Y years, is used to analyse cancer outcomes in a long-term perspective. In this cohort of 344 dogs and 342 cats with surgically removed stage I to III invasive MCs, with a minimal follow-up of 2 years, we calculated the 1-year CS, that is, the probability for patients that have survived 1 year, to survive or to die from cancer during the subsequent year. The 1-year conditional specific survival probabilities were 59% and 48% at diagnosis of invasive MC respectively in dogs and cats, and 80% and 52% in 1-year surviving dogs and cats respectively, suggesting that 1-year surviving dogs were relatively protected from cancer-related death, whereas feline MCs remained life-threatening cancers for longer periods of time. Among the most significant parameters associated with CS in surviving dogs and cats were the nodal stage and lymphovascular invasion, as well as patient age, cancer stage and margin status in surviving dogs. By comparison, tumour size and the histological grade did not significantly alter CS probabilities in surviving dogs and cats. Conditional survival may be considered a very interesting tool for veterinary practitioners to estimate the likely outcome of cancer survivors.

Expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in feline mammary gland carcinomas: association with pathological characteristics and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The microenvironment within solid malignant tumors, including feline mammary gland carcinomas (FMGCs), is commonly hypoxic, possibly due to the lack of functional blood vessels in rapidly proliferating neoplastic tissue. Malignant cells can undergo genetic and adaptive changes that prevent them from dying due to oxygen deprivation through expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Therefore, HIF-1α and VEGF are ideal biomarkers for cancer therapy and prognostic evaluation. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in feline mammary carcinomas and analyze their correlations with clinical and pathological factors, such as clinical stage, histologic grading, regional metastasis, and overall survival rate. RESULTS: Paraffin-embedded tissue samples collected from 72 cats with FMGCs were retrospectively studied. Histologic pattern and histologic grading (Elston and Ellis grading system) of these FMGCs were determined. Our data indicated that grade II tubulopapillary carcinomas (43/72, 59.7%) prevailed in this study, and most FMCGs showed apparent necrosis, squamous metaplasia, and intratumoral stromal response. According to the results of immunohistochemical (IHC) stainings performed in tissue microarrays (TMAs), HIF-1α and VEGF overexpressions were respectively noted in 69.4% (50/72) and 77.8% (56/72) of FMGC cases. Chi-square test showed no correlation of HIF-1α overexpression with clinical and pathological factors. VEGF overexpression was significantly correlated with histologic pattern (p = 0.021), stromal response (p = 0.048), squamous metaplasia (p = 0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.007). However, neither HIF-1α nor VEGF overexpression was correlated with histologic grading and metastasis. Of 38 cats with 1-year follow-up, IHC stainings of HIF-1α and VEGF were performed on whole tissue sections. The results showed that overexpression of HIF-1α was significantly correlated with the overall survival rate (p < 0.05) (log-rank test), whereas there was no significant correlation between VEGF overexpression and overall survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the overexpression of HIF-1α may indicate poor prognosis/overall survival rate in cats with FMGCs. Developing compounds that inhibit HIF-1α may be a potential approach to FMGC treatment.

Definitive-intent radiotherapy for sinonasal carcinoma in cats: A multicenter retrospective assessment.

Treatment of epithelial sinonasal tumours in cats is not commonly reported. In the newer reports, palliative radiation protocols have been described more often than definitive-intent protocols. In this multi-institutional retrospective study, we included 27 cats treated with single-modality radiotherapy. Cats were irradiated using 10 daily fractions of 4.2 Gy. Three cats (11.1%) experienced a complete clinical response and 17 (63%) had a partial clinical response. Stable clinical disease was noted in three cats (11.1%). Four cats (14.8%) showed progression within 3 months following treatment. The median time to progression for all cases was 269 days (95 % confidence intervals [CI]: 225; 314). The proportion of cats free of progression at 1 and 2 years was 24% (95% CI: 22%; 26%) and 5% (95% CI: 5%; 6%), respectively. None of the prognostic factors evaluated were predictive of outcome (anaemia, tumour volume at the time of staging, modified Adams stage, intracranial involvement, facial deformity, epistaxis, inappetence or weight loss). Median overall survival (OS) for all deaths was 452 days (95% CI: 334; 571). The proportion of cats alive at 1 and 2 years was 57% (95% CI: 37%; 77%) and 27% (95% CI: 25%; 29%), respectively. Surprisingly, cats with epistaxis had a longer median OS of 828 days (95% CI: 356; 1301) compared to 296 days (95% CI: 85; 508) in cats without epistaxis, (P = .04, Breslow). Radiation therapy used as a single modality for the treatment of feline sinonasal carcinoma improved clinical signs and was well tolerated but progression within a year was common.

Analysis of Copy-Number Variations and Feline Mammary Carcinoma Survival.

Feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) are highly malignant. As the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) are short, prognostication is crucial. Copy-number variations (CNVs) analysis by next-generation sequencing serves to identify critical cancer-related genomic regions. Thirty-three female cats with FMCs were followed during two years after surgery. Tumours represented tubulopapillary and solid carcinomas encompassing six molecular subtypes. Regardless of the histopathological diagnosis, molecular subtypes showed important differences in survival. Luminal A tumours exhibited the highest DFS (p = 0.002) and cancer-specific OS (p = 0.001), and the lowest amount of CNVs (p = 0.0001). In contrast, basal-like triple-negative FMCs had the worst outcome (DFS, p < 0.0001; and OS, p < 0.00001) and were the most aberrant (p = 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, copy-number losses (CNLs) in chromosome B1 (1-23 Mb) harbouring several tumour-repressors (e.g. CSMD1, MTUS1, MSR1, DBC2, and TUSC3) negatively influenced DFS. Whereas, copy-number gains (CNGs) in B4 (1-29 Mb) and F2 (64-82.3 Mb) comprising epithelial to mesenchymal transition genes and metastasis-promoting transcription factors (e.g. GATA3, VIM, ZEB1, and MYC) negatively influenced DFS and cancer-specific OS. These data evidence an association between specific CNVs in chromosomes B1, B4 and F2, and poor prognosis in FMCs.

Treatment of idiopathic chylothorax in dogs and cats: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the evidence published on the treatment of idiopathic chylothorax (IC) in small animals. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic literature review. SAMPLE POPULATION: Dogs and cats with IC. METHODS: A literature search was performed in three bibliographic databases in July 2018 for publications on IC in dogs and cats. Articles meeting criteria for inclusion were evaluated for treatment, survival, outcome data, and level of evidence (LoE) with a modified Oxford Level of Evidence (mOLE) and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) system. RESULTS: Eleven of 313 identified articles met the inclusion criteria. Only one study was identified in dogs as having higher LoE by using the mOLE system, whereas no study was identified as such in either species with the GRADE system. Surgery was the primary treatment in all dogs and in 93% (68/73) of cats. Medical therapy was the primary treatment in 7% (5/73) of cats. The most common surgical treatment combined thoracic duct ligation (TDL) and subtotal pericardiectomy (SP; 40%; 34/84) in dogs and TDL in cats (51% [37/73]). CONCLUSION: The body of literature for IC treatment in small animals was limited to one higher LoE study in dogs and none in cats. No strong conclusion could be drawn regarding the effectiveness of any one surgical method in dogs or cats, and no evidence was found to support medical therapy as a primary treatment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The best available evidence regarding the treatment of IC is published in dogs and provides some support for surgical treatment with either TDL + cisterna chyli ablation or TDL + SP. Additional evidence is required to confirm this finding.

Recurrence rate and long-term course of cats with feline lower urinary tract disease.

OBJECTIVES: Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) causes clinical signs such as stranguria, pollakiuria, haematuria, vocalisation and periuria, and is often associated with recurring episodes. The primary objective of this study was to survey the long-term course of cats presenting with FLUTD in terms of recurrence rate and mortality. METHODS: Data from cats that were presented with lower urinary tract signs from 2010 to 2013 were collected by telephone interview with cat owners, using a questionnaire. The observation period ranged from the first presentation due to FLUTD to the telephone interview or the cat's death. Data on diagnoses, recurrence of clinical signs and disease-free intervals, as well as implementation and impact of prophylactic measures (PMs), were collected and compared between groups with different aetiologies. RESULTS: The study included 101 cats. Fifty-two cats were diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis, 21 with urolithiasis and 13 with bacterial urinary tract infection; 15 had no definitive diagnosis. Of the 86 cats with a known diagnosis, the recurrence rate was 58.1%, with no significant difference between groups. Twenty-one cats had one relapse, 12 had two relapses, 10 had three and seven had four to eight relapses within a median observation period of 38 months (range 0.5-138 months). Fourteen cats suffered from different causes of FLUTD at different episodes. Mortality due to FLUTD among all 101 cats was 5.0%. The recurrence rate in cats with urolithiasis receiving at least two PMs was significantly lower than the recurrence rate in those without PMs (P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: More than half of the cats with FLUTD presented with two or more recurrent episodes irrespective of the identified aetiology. Cats should be thoroughly investigated at each presentation as it cannot be presumed that the cause of FLUTD is the same at different episodes. The mortality due to FLUTD is lower than previously reported.

Thoracic dog bite wounds in cats: a retrospective study of 22 cases (2005-2015).

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe a series of cats suffering from thoracic dog bite wounds, in order to detail the clinical, radiographic and surgical findings, and evaluate outcomes and factors associated with mortality. METHODS: The medical records of cats with thoracic dog bite wounds presenting to a single institution between 2005 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Data relating to clinical presentation, wound depth and management, radiographic findings, surgical findings and mortality were collected. Wound depth was defined as no external wound, superficial, deep or penetrating, and wound management was defined as conservative, exploratory or thoracic exploration. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney U-test and the χ2 test. RESULTS: Twenty-two cats were included, of which two were euthanased on presentation. In cats where wound depth could be assessed (21/22), six had no external wounds, four had superficial wounds, three had deep wounds and eight suffered penetrating wounds. Sixteen cats also suffered wounds elsewhere, most commonly to the abdomen. Neither an abdominal wound nor abdominal surgery were associated with mortality. Pneumothorax was the most common radiographic finding (11/18). Individual radiographic lesions were not significantly associated with respiratory pattern, presence of pseudo-flail, need for thoracotomy or lung lobectomy, or survival. The presence of ⩾3 radiographic lesions was associated with the presence of a penetrating wound (P = 0.025) and with having thoracic exploration (P = 0.025). Local exploration was performed in 7/20 cats, while 8/20 underwent thoracic exploration. Wound management type was not significantly associated with mortality. Overall mortality rate was 27%. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Presence of ⩾3 radiographic lesions should raise suspicion of a penetrating injury and may be suggestive of injury requiring a greater level of intervention. The treating veterinarian should have a high index of suspicion for penetrating injury and be prepared in case thoracic exploratory surgery is necessary, particularly in the presence of pseudo-flail chest, pneumothorax or ⩾3 radiographic lesions.

Retrospective evaluation of the indications, safety and effects of fresh frozen plasma transfusions in 36 cats (2014-2018).

OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were to classify the indications, risks, effects on coagulation times and outcomes of cats receiving fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusions in clinical practice. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of FFP transfusions administered in two referral hospitals from 2014 to 2018. Transfusion administration forms and medical records were reviewed. Information was collected on indication, underlying condition, coagulation times and signs of transfusion reactions. Seven-day outcomes after FFP administration were also evaluated when available. RESULTS: Thirty-six cats received 54 FFP transfusions. Ninety-four percent of cats were administered FFP for treatment of a coagulopathy. Twenty cats had paired coagulation testing before and after FFP administration. Eighteen of these cats had improved coagulation times after receiving 1-3 units of FFP. Eight of the 36 cats had probable transfusion reactions (14.8% of 54 FFP transfusions). These reactions included respiratory signs (n = 4), fever (n = 2) and gastrointestinal signs (n = 2). Five of the eight cats with probable reactions had received packed red blood cells contemporaneously. Overall mortality rate during hospitalization was 29.7%, with 52.8% (n = 19/36) of cats confirmed to be alive 7 days after discharge. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This retrospective study shows that FFP transfusions improve coagulation times in cats. Transfusion reactions are a risk, and risk-benefit ratios must be measured prior to administration and possible reactions monitored. In the study cats, the FFP transfusions appeared to be a tolerable risk given the benefit to prolonged coagulation times.

Long-term incidence and risk of noncardiovascular and all-cause mortality in apparently healthy cats and cats with preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic knowledge regarding noncardiovascular and all-cause mortality in apparently healthy cats (AH) and cats with preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (pHCM) is limited, hindering development of evidence-based healthcare guidelines. OBJECTIVES: To characterize/compare incidence rates, risk, and survival associated with noncardiovascular and all-cause mortality in AH and pHCM cats. ANIMALS: A total of 1730 client-owned cats (722 AH, 1008 pHCM) from 21 countries. METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter, longitudinal, cohort study. Long-term health data were extracted by medical record review and owner/referring veterinarian interviews. RESULTS: Noncardiovascular death occurred in 534 (30.9%) of 1730 cats observed up to 15.2 years. Proportion of noncardiovascular death did not differ significantly between cats that at study enrollment were AH or had pHCM (P = .48). Cancer, chronic kidney disease, and conditions characterized by chronic weight-loss-vomiting-diarrhea-anorexia were the most frequently recorded noncardiovascular causes of death. Incidence rates/risk of noncardiac death increased with age in AH and pHCM. All-cause death proportions were greater in pHCM than AH (65% versus 40%, respectively; P < .001) because of higher cardiovascular mortality in pHCM cats. Comparing AH with pHCM, median survival (study entry to noncardiovascular death) did not differ (AH, 9.8 years; pHCM, 8.6 years; P = .10), but all-cause survival was significantly shorter in pHCM (P = .0001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: All-cause mortality was significantly greater in pHCM cats due to disease burden contributed by increased cardiovascular death superimposed upon noncardiovascular death.

Persian cats under first opinion veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders.

Persian cats are a popular cat breed worldwide, and especially in the US, Europe and Asia. This study aimed to describe the demography, common disorders and mortality in Persians under general practice veterinary care in 2013 in the UK. The study population of 285,547 cats overall included 3235 (1.1%) Persians. Mean adult Persian bodyweight was 3.9 kg (SD 0.9) and median age was 7.0 years (IQR 3.3-11.6). At least one disorder was recorded in 2099 (64.9%) Persians. The most common specific disorders were haircoat disorders (411, 12.7%), periodontal disease (365, 11.3%), overgrown nails (234, 7.2%), and ocular discharge (188, 5.8%). The most common disorder groups were dermatological (578, 17.9%), ophthalmological (496, 15.3%) and dental (397, 12.3%). Median longevity was 13.5 years (IQR 9.9-16.0). The most common grouped causes of death were renal disease (102, 23.4%), neoplasia (37, 8.5%) and mass-associated disorder (35, 8.0%). This is the first study to use general practice data to examine the overall health of Persian cats. With haircoat, ocular and dental disorders being the predominant disorders identified, this study highlights the need for increased owner awareness to manage and prevent the typical health problems associated with this breed's phenotype.

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Phlebovirus causes lethal viral hemorrhagic fever in cats.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging hemorrhagic fever caused by the SFTS phlebovirus (SFTSV). SFTS patients were first reported in China, followed by Japan and South Korea. In 2017, cats were diagnosed with SFTS for the first time, suggesting that these animals are susceptible to SFTSV. To confirm whether or not cats were indeed susceptible to SFTSV, animal subjects were experimentally infected with SFTSV. Four of the six cats infected with the SPL010 strain of SFTSV died, all showing similar or more severe symptoms than human SFTS patients, such as a fever, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, weight loss, anorexia, jaundice and depression. High levels of SFTSV RNA loads were detected in the serum, eye swab, saliva, rectal swab and urine, indicating a risk of direct human infection from SFTS-infected animals. Histopathologically, acute necrotizing lymphadenitis and hemophagocytosis were prominent in the lymph nodes and spleen. Severe hemorrhaging was observed throughout the gastrointestinal tract. B cell lineage cells with MUM-1 and CD20, but not Pax-5 in the lesions were predominantly infected with SFTSV. The present study demonstrated that cats were highly susceptible to SFTSV. The risk of direct infection from SFTS-infected cats to humans should therefore be considered.

Increased p16CDKN2A, but not p53, immunostaining is predictive of longer survival time in cats with oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Although oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are common in cats there are currently few prognostic markers for these cancers. This study used 52 feline oral SCCs to determine if prognosis can be predicted by the age or sex of the cat, the presence of bone within the diagnostic sample, or the anatomic location of the SCC. Additionally, as p16CDKN2A protein (p16) and p53 are prognostic for human oral SCCs, p16 and p53 immunostaining was evaluated. Only SCC location and p16 immunostaining were prognostic. Cats with oropharyngeal SCCs had an estimated median survival time (MST) of 151 days which was significantly longer than cats with maxillary (51 days P = 0.017), sublingual (33 days P = 0.011) and mandibular (34 days P = 0.029) SCCs. Overall, 19% of oral SCCs were p16-positive with intense nuclear and cytoplasmic immunostaining within most neoplastic cells, 69% had cytoplasmic immunostaining that was confined to the periphery of nests of neoplastic cells, and 12% had no p16 immunostaining. Cats with p16-positive SCCs had a MST of 87 days, which was significantly longer than cats with p16-peripheral SCCs (MST 37 days, P = 0.03), but not longer than cats with p16-negative SCCs (MST 51 days, P = 0.72). No papillomaviral DNA was amplified from the p16-positive SCCs. Twenty (39%) SCCs contained immunostaining for p53, but this was not prognostic (P = 0.31). These results suggest that feline oral SCCs develop by cellular mechanisms that result in one of three patterns of p16 immunostaining. Cancers which develop due to these mechanisms appear to have different clinical behaviors and p16 immunostaining predicts the behavior of these common feline cancers.

Lung lobe torsion in 35 dogs and 4 cats.

The purpose of this study was to assess survival to discharge of animals with surgical or postmortem confirmation of a lung lobe torsion (LLT) as well as to evaluate pre-operative effusion, lung lobe affected, and patient size as prognostic indicators. Medical records search identified 35 dogs and 4 cats with a confirmed diagnosis including 17 small-breed dogs, 18 large-breed dogs, 3 domestic shorthair cats, and 1 minskin cat. Lobes affected included right middle (n = 18), left cranial (n = 18), right cranial (n = 2), left caudal (n = 1), and accessory (n = 1). Two animals died before surgery; the remaining 37 animals underwent thoracotomy. All treated small-breed dogs and cats survived; 12/18 large-breed dogs survived, with an overall survival to discharge of 87%. Pre-operative pleural effusion and affected lung lobe did not affect survival to discharge in this population. Small dogs and cats with LLT appear to have an excellent survival to discharge following thoracotomy and the survival is good in larger dogs.

Torsion de lobe pulmonaire chez 35 chiens et 4 chats. Le but de cette étude est d'évaluer le taux de survie jusqu'à la sortie d'hôpital, chez des animaux ayant eu confirmation chirurgicale ou post-mortem de torsion de lobe pulmonaire (TLP), ainsi que d'évaluer la présence d'épanchement pleural, le lobe pulmonaire affecté et la taille des patients en tant que facteurs pronostics. Les dossiers médicaux de 35 chiens et 4 chats avec un diagnostic de TLP confirmé furent identifiés, comprenant 17 chiens de petite race, 18 chiens de grande race, 3 chats Européens et 1 Minskin. Les lobes pulmonaires affectés étaient le lobe moyen droit (n = 18), le lobe cranial gauche (n = 18), le lobe cranial droit (n = 2), le lobe caudal gauche (n = 1) et le lobe accessoire (n = 1). Deux animaux décédèrent avant chirurgie, et une thoracotomie fut pratiquées chez les 37 animaux restant. Tous les chiens de petites races et les chats survécurent à leur chirurgie; 12/18 des chiens de grande race survécurent, et le taux de survie global était de 87 %. La présence d'épanchement pleural et le lobe pulmonaire affecté n'avaient pas d'influence sur la probabilité de survie dans cette population. Le taux de survie au congé hospitalier semble excellent chez les chiens de petite taille et les chats diagnostiqués avec une torsion de lobe pulmonaire et il est bon pour les chiens de grande taille.(Traduit par les auteurs).

External beam radiotherapy for the treatment of feline salivary gland carcinoma: six new cases and a review of the literature.

CASE SERIES SUMMARY: Salivary gland carcinoma is uncommon in cats. We report the outcome of radiation therapy in six cases (four salivary gland adenocarcinomas, one tubulopapillary adenocarcinoma, one carcinoma). Five were treated after surgical excision of the primary tumour, but four had gross disease (primary or metastatic) at the time of starting radiotherapy. Exact progression-free interval from the start of radiotherapy in the two cats where this was known was 120 and 144 days, respectively. One cat was signed off at 766 days with no evidence of recurrence. Another cat was in remission at 202 days (when last seen by the referring practice) but subsequently developed recurrence (date uncertain). Survival time was known for three cats (55 days, 258 days and 570 days from initiation of radiotherapy, respectively). In two cases, locoregional progressive disease (PD) was confirmed, and the other presumed as the cause of death. Two cats, known to have developed PD, were alive at the time of writing (at 206 and 549 days, respectively). No cat died as a result of distant metastatic disease. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: There is a paucity of information on the treatment of salivary gland tumours. In humans, as in cats, there is no optimised standard of care for malignant tumours. It is accepted that, for surgical candidates (even with large tumours), surgery and radiotherapy is superior to radiotherapy alone. However, the benefits of postoperative radiotherapy compared with surgery alone are only clear in patients with high-risk tumours (ie, those with large and invasive primary tumours, close or incomplete margins, high histopathological grade, histological evidence of neural or vascular invasion, or positive lymph nodes). This population is analogous to the population reported here, and likely to most cats presented in practice. Thus, radiation therapy may help improve locoregional control and survival in cats.

Response, disease-free interval and overall survival of cats with nasal planum squamous cell carcinoma treated with a fractionated vs a single-dose protocol of strontium plesiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: The main aim of the study was to establish response, disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival of cats with nasal planum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with Sr90 plesiotherapy. A secondary aim was to determine whether a fractionated protocol is more effective than a single-dose protocol in terms of response, DFI and overall survival. The third aim was to evaluate whether we can identify prognostic factors that influence overall survival. METHODS: This was a retrospective study that included cats with a diagnosis of nasal planum SCC treated with Sr90 plesiotherapy at a single institution. RESULTS: Seventy-four cats were included in the study. Thirty-two were treated with a fractionated protocol and 42 with a single-dose treatment. Sr90 plesiotherapy was able to induce complete response in 74% of cats with nasal planum SCC. The median DFI was 780 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 383-1177), with 17% of cats experiencing local recurrence. The overall survival for all cats was 1039 days (95% CI 55-1528). The DFI of cats treated with the fractionated Sr90 was significantly longer compared with the single-dose treatment, whereas response and overall survival were not statistically different. Other prognostic factors that influenced the overall survival were early-stage disease, absence of concurrent problems and complete response to the treatment. Acute and long-term toxicity associated with the treatment were minimal and the aesthetic outcome was pleasing in almost all cases. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Strontium plesiotherapy is a safe and effective treatment of nasal planum SCC in cats.

Comparison of definitive-intent finely fractionated and palliative-intent coarsely fractionated radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment of feline microscopic injection-site sarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this retrospective, bi-institutional study was to evaluate the progression-free interval in a cohort of cats with postoperative microscopic injection-site sarcoma (ISS) treated with two different radiotherapy protocols. METHODS: Included in the study were cats with ISSs undergoing macroscopic surgical removal and subsequent electron beam radiotherapy treatment with either a finely fractionated protocol (48 or 52.8 Gy over 4 weeks delivered in 12 or 16 fractions) or a coarsely fractionated protocol (36 Gy over 3 weeks administered in six fractions). Medical records were reviewed and follow-up information was collected. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the progression-free interval (PFI) between the two protocols and to test the influence of many clinical variables. RESULTS: Fifty-nine cats were included; 38 underwent a finely fractionated protocol and 21 a coarsely fractionated protocol. PFI was not significantly different between the two groups. Overall PFI was 2000 days (2000 vs 540 days; P = 0.449). When only first-occurrence cases were included, median PFI was significantly longer in the finely fractionated group compared with the coarsely fractionated group (1430 vs 540 days; P = 0.007). In cats that underwent multiple surgeries PFI was not different between protocols (233 vs 395 days; P = 0.353). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Cats with first-occurrence ISSs appear to benefit from postoperative finely fractionated radiotherapy. The same benefit was not evident in cats that underwent multiple surgeries and we think a coarsely fractionated protocol would be indicated in these cases.

Radiation therapy for intracranial tumours in cats with neurological signs.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of cats with intracranial tumours presenting with neurological signs treated with radiation therapy. METHODS: This study comprised a retrospective multicentre case series. Medical records of a total of 22 cats with intracranial space-occupying lesions, presenting with neurological signs and/or epileptic seizures and treated with external beam radiation therapy, were reviewed. In the treated cats, patient-, tumour- and treatment-related variables were investigated, including age, sex, tumour location, tumour volume, total radiation dose, equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2), corticosteroid dose, overall treatment time and institution for influence on local tumour control and survival. RESULTS: Based on advanced imaging characteristics, the 22 treated cats presented with meningioma (n = 11), pituitary tumour (n = 8), choroid plexus tumour (n = 2) or glioma (n = 1). Allocated to the neuraxis, 11 lesions were extra-axial, three were intra-axial and eight were located in the pituitary region. At diagnosis, 21 cats exhibited altered neurological status. One cat presented with epileptic seizures and another cat had both seizures and altered neurological status. The mean total physical dose of radiation was 41.63 Gy (± 4.33), range 24-45 Gy. In all but one cat (95.5%), neurological signs improved after radiation therapy. The median progression-free survival was 510 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51-969). The proportion free of progression at 1 year was 55.7% (95% CI: 33-78). Fourteen cats died (only in five cases was death related to the intracranial tumour) and eight cats were still alive or lost to follow-up. The median overall survival time was 515 days (95% CI: 66-964). None of the tested variables influenced outcome. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Radiation therapy seems to represent a viable treatment option in cats with intracranial tumours, relieving neurological signs and improving local tumour control. Radiation therapy may be considered for cats with tumours in complicated/inoperable localisations or for cases with a high peri- and postoperative risk.

Comparison of medical and/or surgical management of 23 cats with intracranial empyema or abscessation.

OBJECTIVES: Feline intracranial abscessation or empyema is infrequently reported in the veterinary literature. To date, the largest study is based on a population of 19 cats with otogenic infection. The aim of this study was to review a larger population of cats with intracranial empyema from multiple aetiologies and document their signalment, imaging findings, treatment protocols (including medical and/or surgical management) and to compare outcomes. METHODS: Cases presenting to a single referral centre over a 10 year period with compatible history, neurological signs and imaging findings consistent with intracranial abscessation and empyema were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty-three cats met the inclusion criteria. Advanced imaging (CT and/or MRI) was performed in 22/23 cats; one case was diagnosed via ultrasound. Ten cases underwent medical and surgical management combined, 10 underwent solely medical management and three were euthanased at the time of diagnosis. Short-term outcome showed that 90% of surgically managed and 80% of medically managed cats were alive at 48 h post-diagnosis. Long-term survival showed that surgically managed cases and medically managed cases had a median survival time of 730 days (range 1-3802 days) and 183 days (range 1-1216 days), respectively. No statistical significance in short- or long-term survival ( P >0.05) was found between medically and surgically managed groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Feline intracranial abscessation and empyema are uncommon conditions that have historically been treated with combined surgical and medical management. This study documents that, in some cases, intracranial abscessation and empyema can also be successfully treated with medical management alone.