Ultrasound characteristics of feline urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma are similar to canine urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma

Abstract

Feline transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is a rare neoplasia of cats with an estimated prevalence of 0.18%. Cats with TCC share clinical signs with common pathologies like feline idiopathic cystitis or urinary tract infections. Nonspecific clinical signs include hematuria, pollakiuria, or stranguria. The literature lacks a feline-specific ultrasound description of TCC. The aim of this multicenter retrospective descriptive study was to report ultrasound findings of a collection of feline TCC and then assess if feline TCC and canine TCC have similar ultrasound appearances. It was hypothesized that the ultrasound characteristics would be similar between feline and canine TCC. Ultrasound studies were assessed for tumor shape, number of isolated mural masses, location within the bladder, presence of Doppler signal, echogenicity of urine, mineralization within the mass, extension of the mass into the proximal urethra or ureters, urethral/ureteral obstruction, pyelectasia, and sublumbar lymphadenopathy. Feline studies were compared to 20 cases of confirmed canine TCC. A total of 20 cats with histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of TCC were included. Feline and canine TCC had similarities when viewed using ultrasound. Statistically significant differences were identified for location of the bladder mass (cats were more likely to be mid-body vs trigonal in dogs, P=.011) and urethral extension of the tumor was less likely in cats than dogs (P=.0436). Based on this sample of 20 cats, feline TCC was most commonly a singular, broad-based mass within the mid-body or apex of the urinary bladder.