Fifteen cats were evaluated with urethral obstruction. Penile trauma by catheterization was the major indication for perineal urethrostomy. Ten cats had developed a urethral stricture and five had rupture of the urethra following medical management. All cats had abnormalities in penis and/or prepuce and/or scrotal sacs including hyperemia or swelling. Perineal urethrostomy was performed in all cases and they were evaluated for 6 months after surgery. Few complications were noted. Urinary tract infection was the most frequent complication observed. The clients considered their cats to have a good quality of life following surgery.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of a hypofractionated radiation protocol for feline facial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Twenty-five histologically confirmed SCCs in 15 cats were treated with four fractions of 7.6-10Gy each, with 1 week intervals. The equipment used was a linear accelerator Clinac 2100 delivering electron beam of 4 or 6MeV, and a bolus of 5 or 10mm was used in all lesions. Of the lesions, 44% were staged as T4, 16% as T3, 8% as T2 and 32% as T1. Of the irradiated lesions, 40% had complete response, 12% had partial response and 48% had no response (NR) to the treatment. For T1 tumors, 62.5% had complete remission. Mean overall survival time was 224 days. Owners requested euthanasia of cats having NR to the treatment. Mean disease free time was 271 days. Side effects observed were skin erythema, epilation, ulceration and conjunctivitis, which were graded according to Veterinary Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (VRTOG) toxicity criteria. Response rates found in this study (52%) were lower when compared to other protocols, probably due to technique differences, such as fractionation schedule, bolus thickness and energy penetration depth. However, the hypofractionated radiation protocol was considered safe for feline facial SCC. Modifications of this protocol are being planned with the objective of improving the cure rates in the future.

Management of a traumatic oronasal fistula with a prosthetic device in an 8-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat is described. The animal had fallen from a height of three stories at the age of 1 year. The fall had resulted in a fracture of the hard palate and a split in the palatal mucosa. Two surgical attempts to close the defect had been unsuccessful and an autopolymerizable acrylic resin prosthesis had produced unsatisfactory results. The management of the chronic traumatic fistula with a conical prosthetic device was fast, easy and efficient. The device was removed and a second one was put in place after 2 years. This method would appear particularly useful for obturation of large palatal defects that have failed to heal after attempts at surgical closure and is an alternative treatment for debilitated cats which may not be candidates for longer surgical procedures.

The vast majority of mammary tumors in cats are malignant with high metastatic and mortality rates. This study evaluated clinical, cytological and histopathological aspects of 20 cases of cat mammary masses deriving from the city of Rio de Janeiro. Data on history, macroscopic description, evidence of regional lymph node and distant metastases, clinical examination and treatment were collected. The cats were treated with unilateral mastectomy, unilateral mastectomy plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone. Tissues were submitted for cytological and histological evaluation. Histopathological analysis described one case of mammary hyperplasia and 19 cases of adenocarcinoma. Inadequate surgical margins were obtained in two cats while six showed evidence of microscopic invasion in other mammary glands. Multiple mammary involvement and greater tumor size (diameter over 7.05 cm) were correlated with increased chance of local metastases. Ulceration of tumors and metastases were common. These facts support the highly malignant nature of this neoplasia and emphasize the risks associated with delay in diagnosis and treatment of feline patients. In conclusion, mammary palpation should be performed routinely in the clinical practice.

A 9-month-old intact female Persian cat presented with recurrent pulmonary edema secondary to an elongated soft palate. Endoscopic evaluation of the pharynx and larynx showed that the elongated soft palate was overlying the epiglottis. Partial resection of the soft palate was performed and the cat showed no further respiratory signs. This report is the first description of elongated soft palate causing airway obstruction in a brachycephalic cat.