What is lymphoma in cats

This includes the stomach, intestines and liver; as well as some of the lymph nodes surrounding the intestines. Cats with this type of lymphoma often have clinical signs consisting of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss or a decreased appetite. Mediastinal: The mediastinum is a term used for a special aggregation of lymphoid tissue in the chest.

Cats with this type of lymphoma are usually young and often seen because of a sudden onsent of difficulty breathing, decreased energy level and decrease in appetite. Renal: The kidneys can be the primary sites of involvement. Cats that have this type are often seen because of signs related to kidney failure increased thirst, increased urination, loss of appetite, vomiting. Bone Marrow: If the cancer were confined to the bone marrow, it is considered leukemia. Most patients are presented to the hospital for a decrease in energy and appetite.

Bloodwork, usually reveals a change in their red blood cell and white blood cell counts. External Lymph Nodes: In a few cats, the only site of involvement is the external lymph nodes. Other Sites: We will occasionally see other sites such as the skin, nose, brain and spinal cord as the primary site of involvement.

A biopsy tissue or cytology aspirate sample is required in order to make a diagnosis of lymphoma. In some cases, we can obtain a diagnosis by a fine needle aspirate, but in other situations, a biopsy to obtain a larger piece of tissue is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. The ease with which a diagnosis can be obtained depends upon where the tumor is located. If your pet vocalizes due to pain or anxiety, please consult with your tending veterinarian immediately. Facebook Twitter Instagram.

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Excessive Tearing in Horses. Eye Issues in Foals. Feeding to Prevent Colic in Horses. Flying Insect Allergy in Horses. Lymphoma can present in countless different ways. This is largely a consequence of the fact that lymphoma and leukaemia in cats can affect many different organs. Most classification schemes for feline lymphoma reflect the anatomic distribution of the lesions although some pioneers have noted the importance of the appearance of the cancerous cells. In human haemato-oncology, there are over 40 different kinds of lymphoma and leukaemia that are recognised and there are moves afoot to try to sub-classify lymphoma in dogs in similar ways.

Above: Pebbles who was extremely unwell with lymphoma in the chest, here 4 weeks after initiation of chemotherapy. Early investigations in feline lymphoma have failed to show prognostic significance associated with the T-cell or B-cell sub-types, which is considered one of the primary determinants of outcome in human and canine lymphoma.

Undoubtedly further investigations in the future will help us to predict treatment response more reliably. Currently, the most frequently diagnosed form of feline lymphoma is the alimentary or intestinal form. Patients often present with a history of reduced appetite, intermittent vomiting and sometimes a palpable mass in the abdomen.

Diagnosis is made on biopsy, either by fine needle aspirate, core biopsy or surgical biopsy. In the absence of a detectable mass, some cases are presented with a generalised thickening of the intestine.

These patients can have a much more insidious disease progression and may represent a different sub-type of feline lymphoma, often with a much improved prognosis.