Tumor prevalence in cats: experience from a reference diagnostic center in Mexico City (2006-2018)

Ezequiel M Fuentes-Pananá,Juan Miguel Pérez-Enriquez,Laura Romero-Romero,Rogelio Alejandro Alonso-Morales

doi:10.22201/fmvz.24486760e.2020.4.837

Ezequiel M Fuentes-Pananá, Juan Miguel Pérez-Enriquez + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.22201/fmvz.24486760e.2020.4.837

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Abstract

Records of referred cat cases received for diagnosis in the Department of Pathology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry between 2006 and 2018, were reviewed to examine frequency of occurrence of neoplasms and associated demographic factors. To this end, the records of biopsies, necropsies and clinical information were analyzed to obtain data on animal sex and age, as well as neoplasm histotype, tissue of origin, and malignant/benign biological behavior. A total of 685 neoplasm cases were diagnosed during the study period, which represented 37.7% of all referred histopathological domestic cat cases. Epithelial neoplasms were the most prevalent (56% of cases), followed by mesenchymal tumors (27%), and hematopoietic and lymphoreticular neoplasms (17%). The most common tumor type was carcinoma (31%), followed by sarcoma (14%), adenocarcinoma (13%), lymphoma (13%), and adenoma (6%). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequent form of carcinoma (117 cases), followed by lymphoma (88 cases), and spindle cell sarcoma (56 cases). Approximately 85% of all cases corresponded to malignant neoplasms. A relationship between sex and histogenesis was observed, but there was no gender association with malignant behavior. Also, hematopoietic/lymphoreticular tumors occurred more frequently at an early age, than other types of neoplasms. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first epidemiological report indicating the most common neoplasms in a Mexican domestic cat population.

Highlights

Cancer is a common disease and one of the most important causes of death in domestic animals.[1]
From 1,816 cases of domestic cats that where referred for histopathological diagnosis to the FMVZ-UNAM Pathology Department between 2006 and 2018, 685 were neoplasms (37.7%), 109 of which were diagnosed by necropsy and 576 by biopsy
Cancer registries in veterinary centers allow a better understanding of the epidemiological characteristics of different neoplasms, and point out discrepancies that may occur between regions, which can support better diagnosis and treatment

Summary

Introduction

Cancer is a common disease and one of the most important causes of death in domestic animals.[1]. There are deviations from these numbers depending on the reported period and the geographic region.[2] One of the largest studies in feline populations was carried out in Switzerland by Graf et al (2015) and reports a 34.79% of neoplasm cases in cats in a 43-year period (1965-2008).[3] Another relevant report was undertaken in the United Kingdom, analyzing over 9,000 feline cutaneous tumors, where squamous cell, fibrosarcoma and basal cell carcinomas were the most frequent types of neoplasms found between 2006 and 2013.7 These registers have paved the way for epidemiological and descriptive studies that have helped us comprehend the severity of this disease for domestic cats

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