Skin: neoplasia

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Age predisposition, Breed predisposition, Pathogenesis, Etiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Gross autopsy findings, Histopathology findings, Treatment, Standard treatment, Prevention, Prophylaxis, Sequelae, Prognosis, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Laura Garrett DVM DACVIM (Oncology)
Dr Susan North BSc PhD DVM DACVIM(Onc)
Mr David Scarff BVetMed CertSAD MRCVS
Dr Rosanna Marsella DVM DipACVD

Introduction

  • Second most common site for feline tumors.
  • Skin tumors in cats make up 20-30% of all tumors.
  • Less common than in dogs.
  • Fewer different types occur but higher percentage is malignant. Malignant skin tumors in cats are reported to be three times more common than benign tumors.
  • Relative frequency of various skin tumors has been reported to be changing with fibrosarcoma becoming more common than epithelial skin tumors.

Solitary mass

Epithelial

  • Basal cell carcinoma  Basal cell tumor  .
  • Squamous cell carcinoma  Squamous cell carcinoma  .
  • Papilloma  Skin: papilloma  .
  • Adnexal
    • Apocrine/sweat gland  Sweat gland: hyperplasia neoplasia  .
    • Modified apocrine/ceruminous.
    • Sebaceous  Sebaceous gland: hyperplasia neoplasia  .
    • Hair matrix/ follicle  Hair follicle: neoplasia  .
    • Perianal  Basal cell tumor  .

Mesenchymal

  • Fibroma/fibrosarcoma  Fibrosarcoma  .
  • Lipoma  Lipoma  /liposarcoma.
  • Hemangioma/hemangiosarcoma  Hemangiosarcoma  .

Mastocytoma

  • Mast cell tumor  Mastocytoma  .

Melanoma

  • Melanocytic tumor  Melanoma  .

Multiple masses

  • Cutaneous lymphoma/mycosis fungoides  Skin: lymphocytic neoplasia  .
  • Mast cell tumor.
  • Metastatic skin lesions.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma  Squamous cell carcinoma  (Bowen's disease -multiple sites of carcinoma in situ ).

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Solitary or multiple skin masses.
  • Well circumscribed, mobile, slow growing, pigmented - suggests benign.
  • Poorly defined, adherent, rapid growth - suggests malignant.
  • May be ulcerated, erosive and secondarily infected lymph node enlargement possible.

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Variable according to tumor type.
  • Grave for metastatic disease.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Not possible to treat because too extensive, or no effective therapy available, eg mycosis fungoides.
  • Local recurrence due to inadequate excision.
  • Distant metastasis.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Recent references fromPubMed.
  • Miller M A, Nelson S L, Turk J R, Pace L W, Brown T P, Shaw D P, Fischer J R & Gosser H S (1991)Cutaneous neoplasia in 340 cats.Vet Pathol28, 389-395.
  • Bostock D E (1986)Neoplasms of the skin and subcutaneous tissues in dogs and cats.Brit Vet J142, 1-19.
  • Susaneck S J (1983)Feline skin tumors.Compend Contin Educ5,  251-259.
  • Macy D W & Reynolds H A (1981)The incidence, characteristics and clinical management of skin tumors of cats. JAAHA17, 1026-1034.
  • Scott D W (1980)Feline Dermatology 1900-1978. JAAHA16, 331-459.

Other sources of information

  • Guaguere E & Prelaud P (1999)A practical guide to feline dermatology.Merial.
  • Carpenter J L, Andrews L K and Holzworth J (1987)Tumors and Tumor-like lesions.In:Diseases of the Cat. Medicine and Surgery.Ed J Holzworth. Philadelphia: W B Saunders Co. pp 406-596.
  • Vail D M and Withrow S J (1996)Tumors of the skin and subcutaneous tissues.InSmall Animal Clinical Oncology.Eds S J Withrow and E G MacEwen. 2nd edition. Philadelphia: W B Saunders Co. pp 167-191.

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