Outcome and Prognostic Indicators in Cats Undergoing Splenectomy for Splenic Mast Cell Tumors

Abstract

This was a multi-institutional retrospective study evaluating the outcome and clinical parameters associated with the postoperative prognosis of 36 cats with splenic mast cell tumors treated with splenectomy. Clinical parameters reviewed included signalment, clinical history, results of staging tests, surgical variables, administration of blood products, presence of metastasis, postoperative complications, administration of chemotherapy postoperatively, chemotherapy protocol, and response to chemotherapy. Overall median survival time was 390 days (range, 2-1737 days). Administration of a blood product (P < .0001), metastasis to a regional lymph node (P = .022), and evidence of either concurrent or historical neoplasia (P = .037) were negatively associated with survival. Response to chemotherapy (P = .0008) was associated with an improved median survival time. Larger-scale prospective studies evaluating different chemotherapy protocols are required to elucidate the discrepancy between lack of survival benefit with administration of chemotherapy and improvement in survival time with positive response to chemotherapy.

Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of feline splenic mast cell tumors: A multi‐institutional retrospective study of 64 cases

“…Splenic mast cell neoplasia is one of the most common splenic tumors in the cat, representing 15%‐27% of all splenic diseases in this species . Older cats are most often affected, with a mean age of 9‐13 years, and no breed or sex predilection has been reported …”

“…Anemia is a common finding and is reported in 14%‐70% of cases . Circulating mast cells have been reported in 37% to 100% of cats and case reports exist of cats that have complete resolution of mastocytemia months following splenectomy .…”

“…One case series found that 90% of cats had coagulation abnormalities on their coagulation profiles prior to surgery (Feinmehl R, personal communication, 20 September 2016) . Up to one third of cats have been reported to have abdominal or pleural effusions that are eosinophil and mast cell rich …”

“…Previous studies have identified anorexia, weight loss, anemia, abdominal lymph node metastasis, mastocytemia and the administration of a peri‐operative blood product as negative prognostic factors for cats with splenic MCT undergoing splenectomy . Sabbatini et al found that cats with disease localized to the spleen had better outcomes than those with other organ involvement .…”

“…Sabbatini et al found that cats with disease localized to the spleen had better outcomes than those with other organ involvement . However, the prognostic variables published have been inconsistent among studies and only cats undergoing splenectomy have been evaluated …”