Olfactory neuroblastoma in a domestic cat and review of the literature

Abstract

Nasal tumors account for less than 10% of all feline neoplasms, with lymphoma, followed by adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, the most commonly reported. Nasal neuroectodermal tumors, including olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), are scarcely described, and their tumorigenesis is largely unknown. Here we report the cytological, histological, and immunohistochemical features of a feline ONB. We also provide a pathological review of nasal neuroendocrine neoplasms in cats. A 7-year-old Burmese cat was evaluated for sneezing, occasional epistaxis, and upper respiratory noise for 8 months. Computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed a 7 × 5 × 3 mm irregular mass effacing and expanding the nasal cavity, which extended to the nasopharynx. Cytologically, neoplastic cells were round to polygonal and had a round nucleus with finely stippled chromatin, a single small nucleolus, and abundant pale blue cytoplasm, which contained abundant fine pale pink granules. They exhibited How to cite this article: Martí-García B, Priestnall SL, Holmes E, Suárez-Bonnet A. Olfactory neuroblastoma in a domestic cat and review of the literature.