Clinical response and survival time of cats with carcinoma of the nasal cavity treated with palliative coarse fractionated radiotherapy

Abstract

Carcinoma is the second most common tumour of the nasal cavity in cats. Few studies assessing the response and survival of cats with carcinoma of the nasal cavity treated with palliative coarse fractionated radiotherapy have been published. Twenty-eight cats were diagnosed with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the nasal cavity. All patients treated with a coarse fractionated radiotherapy protocol were retrospectively reviewed. Improvement of the clinical signs were reported in 24 cases; median survival time (MST) was 342 days; and cats with Adams modified stage IV and facial deformity had a significantly reduced MST of 152 days (P = 0.0013) and 67 days (P = 0.0002), respectively. Severe radiotherapy-related clinical signs were not reported and alopecia and leukotrichia were the most common side effects reported in ten cases. Coarse fractionated radiotherapy treatment for carcinoma of the nasal cavity in cats is effective in relieving clinical signs. Long survival times can be achieved, in particular in cases with a less advanced stage of the tumour.