This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wobeser, B. K. Articles by Allen, A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wobeser, B. K. Articles by Allen, A. L.

Diagnoses and Clinical Outcomes Associated with Surgically Amputated Feline Digits Submitted to Multiple Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories

Department of Veterinary Pathology (BKW, BAK, ALA); Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (MNM), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (BEP); Animal Cancer Center (SJW), College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, Colorado; Prairie Diagnostic Services, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (MTS¹)

Amputation is commonly performed in an attempt to both treat and diagnose conditions affecting the digits of cats. The records of multiple veterinary diagnostic laboratories were searched to identify submissions of amputated digits from cats. Eighty-five separate submissions were reviewed for diagnosis, age, sex, limb of origin, and digits affected; and the original submitting clinics were surveyed to determine clinical outcome. The Kaplan-Meier product-limit method was used to determine the disease-free interval and survival time. Neoplastic disease was identified in 63 of 85 submissions, with exclusively inflammatory lesions composing the other 22 cases. In 60 (95.2%) of the neoplastic cases, a malignant tumor was identified. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most commonly identified malignant tumor (n = 15; 23.8%) and was associated with a median survival time of 73 days. Other diagnoses included fibrosarcoma (n = 14; 22.2%); adenocarcinoma, likely metastases of a primary pulmonary neoplasm (n = 13; 20.6%); osteosarcoma (n = 5; 7.9%); mast cell tumor (n = 4; 6.3%); hemangiosarcoma (n = 5; 7.9%); malignant fibrous histiocytoma (n = 2; 3.2%); giant cell tumor of bone (n = 2; 3.2%); and hemangioma (n = 2; 3.2%). Giant cell tumor of bone has not been previously described in the digits of cats. Various neoplasms can occur in the digits of cats, and submission of the amputated digit for histopathologic diagnosis is essential to determine the histogenesis and predict the clinical outcome.

Key words: Adenocarcinoma; giant cell tumor of bone; neoplasia prevalence; squamous cell carcinoma.

Request reprints from Dr. A. Allen, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Canada). E-mail: andrew.allen{at}usask.ca