Introduction
- Neoplasia arising directly from bronchopulmonary tissue, or as a result of metastasis.
Primary tumors
- <0.5% of feline neoplasms. Most are malignant:
- Papillary adenocarcinoma.
- Bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma.
- Squamous cell carcinoma.
- Bronchial gland carcinoma.
- Adenosquamous carcinoma.
Secondary tumors:
- Mammary adenocarcinoma
. - Squamous cell carcinoma .
- Lymphoma .
- Osteosarcoma .
- Signs : variable, tachypnea, dyspnea, lethargy, cachexia, lameness, vomiting/regurgitation, hemoptysis, bronchopneumonia, persistent cough.
- Diagnosis : history, clinical signs, radiography, bronchoscopy, histopathology.
- Treatment : surgical excision if possible with isolated primary tumor. Chemotherapy or palliative treatment.
- Prognosis : generally poor, but good if successful excision of isolated or benign neoplasm.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
- Tachypnea.
- Expiratory dyspnea.
- Coughing.
- Lameness/pain: associated with distal bony metastases or hypertrophic pulmonary osteopathy.
- Mammary lesion.
- Pyrexia.
- Dullness on thoracic percussion, associated with pleural effusion or large mass.
Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
- Chronic bronchial disease .
- Pleural effusion .
- Pneumonia .
- Bronchiectasis.
- Pulmonary hemorrhage .
- Tuberculosis (respiratory form) .
Sequelae
Prognosis
- Generally poor with most primary neoplasms. Depends on tumor type, size, site, involvement of lymph nodes and metastasis.
- Metastatic disease commonly seen in many sites, including regional lymph nodes, mediastinum, pleura, heart, spleen and appendicular skeleton.
- Good if complete excision of benign primary tumor.
Reasons for treatment failure
- Inoperability.
- Metastasis.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Hahn K Aet al(1999)Primary lung tumors in cats - 86 cases (1979-1994).JAVMA211(10), 1257-1260.
- Barr I F, Gruffydd-Jones T J, Brown P Jet al(1987)Primary lung tumors in the cat.JSAP28, 1115-1125.
