Feline Lymphoma Flashcards
Which breeds are predisposed to lymphomas in cats?
Siamese/ Oriental breeds predisposed
What can increase a cat’s risk of developing a lymphoma?
Retroviruses (FeLV, FIV)
Environmental (tobacco smoke)
Chronic inflammation like IBD
Immunosuppression post transplant
Retrovirus caused lymphomas are more likely to be B or T cell origin?
B Cell
What are the three types of alimentary lymphoma in cats?
Low grade
High grade
Large granular lymphocyte lymphoma (arises from cytotoxic t cells)
What is the difference between a low grade and a high grade lymphoma?
Low grade causes chronic clinical signs and a thickening of the muscularis layer
High grade presents as acute clinical signs with a distinct intestinal mass
What are the two most common lymphoma locations/ types in felines?
Alimentary & Nasal
Which form of lymphoma is heavily linked to FeLV infections and what age does this occur?
Mediastinal- occurs in young cats (approx 3 years)
What is a Hodgkins like lymphoma?
slowly progressive lymphoma that starts in the mandibular/ cervical lymph node (mostly unilateral)
Classified specifically as Reed-Sternberg cells
What may haematology show in a feline patient with lymphoma?
Anaemia (especially common in alimentary lymphoma)
What may biochemistry show us in a feline patient with lymphoma?
Hypoalbuminaemia (especially for alimentary related)
Raised ALT, ALP and bilirubin (suggests hepatic involvement)
Azotaemia (renal involvement)
When would we immunophenotype in feline lymphoma cases?
when cytology/ histopathology has not provided a definitive diagnosis
and when differentiating inflammation from neoplasia (alimentary lymphoma vs IBD)
Do we need to stage feline lymphomas?
Not really as it doesn’t have a major influence on treatment or prognosis
Exceptions to this rule include- nasal lymphoma as its treated with radiotherapy if local (not chemo)
How do we treat low grade feline lymphomas?
Chlorambucil and Prednisolone
How are high grade feline lymphomas treated?
COP or CHOPP protocols
What rescue protocols are recommended for feline lymphoma treatment?
Cyclophosphamide or Lomustine single agent
What is the difference in outcome when using COP compared to CHOP protocols?
no significant difference
but Doxorubicin (CHOP) has a lower response rate and can be nephrotoxic
but CHOP protocol induces a more durable remission
How would we treat a large granular lymphocyte lymphoma (LGL)?
Lomustine based protocols aka LOP
How would we treat a feline lymphoma with Renal/ CNS involvement?
Cytarabine aka COAP protocol - crosses the blood brain barrier
When is surgery for lymphoma indicated? (3)
Indicated for localised Hodgkin’s like lymphoma
Perforative/ obstructive intestinal masses
Subcutaneous lymphomas
What are negative prognostic factors in feline lymphomas?
FeLV positive
High grade
LGL subtype
What is the difference between a Leukaemia and a lymphoma?
Lymphoma comes from mature lymphocytes
Leukaemia is derived from bone marrow precursors or other haematopoietic precursors in the spleen
What is a myeloid leukemia?
arises from an erythrocyte, platelet or other WBC precusor
Does acute or chronic leukaemia have the worse prognosis?
Acute- more aggressive, severe clinical signs and poor prognosis (days- weeks)
What are the main clinical signs of Leukaemia?
pyrexia, lethargy, mild lymphadenomegaly and hepatosplenomegaly
