Pericardial lymphoma in seven cats

Abstract

A presumed primary pericardial lymphoma was diagnosed in seven cats. Clinical findings at presentation included poor body condition, dehydration and dyspnoea. Thoracic diagnostic imaging was performed in six cases and revealed pleural effusion and a diffuse thickening of the pericardium. A cytological diagnosis of lymphoma was obtained in six cases; in four cases the diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy. Immunophenotyping was performed in six cases: three cases were classified as T-cell and three as B-cell lymphoma. Four cats did not receive any treatment. One cat received only prednisone and two cats received chemotherapy. Six cats lived 7-11 days, except for one cat that received a multi-drug chemotherapy protocol and was still alive at the time of writing (750 days after diagnosis). Primary pericardial lymphoma is a rare extranodal feline lymphoma that has never been described previously.

Feline cardiac lymphoma: a case report

“…In all of the reports considered, the symptomatologic picture of the animals would be similar to that of the feline in this report. The manifestation of apathy, anorexia, and loss of weight observed in this report also corroborate the findings of Cápua et al (2005), Anai et al (2013), Amati et al (2014) and Eleutério (2014). The acute onset of regurgitation or cough is also normally observed in felines with mediastinal lymphoma (Couto, 2000).…”

“…The acute onset of regurgitation or cough is also normally observed in felines with mediastinal lymphoma (Couto, 2000). Other clinical signs described include intolerance to exercise or reluctance to move, tachypnea and dyspnea, cyanosis, dehydration, weak femoral pulse, syncope and cachexia (Cardoso et al, 2004;Amati et al, 2014).…”

“…In this report, the patient was FeLV-positive and presented dyspnea as the most serious clinical sign. Eleutério (2014) reported the occurrence of a lymphoma around the cardiac bottom of a three-year-old male feline who was also tested positive for FeLV; Amati et al (2014) reported pericardial lymphoma in seven felines with an average of five years of age, being only one negative for FeLV; Anai et al (2013) reported a primary cardiac lymphoma in a bitch with eight years of age; and Cápua et al (2005) reported a mediastinal lymphoma in a two-year-old male feline. In all of the reports considered, the symptomatologic picture of the animals would be similar to that of the feline in this report.…”

Body Cavity Fluids

“…Neoplasia accounted for 5.4% of cases, most of which were lymphoma. Amati et al (2014) found six of seven cases of pericardial lymphoma being T-cell. Rush et al (1990) found neoplasia associated with 18% of cases, whereas Hall et al (2007) found neoplasia in 5.5% of cases.…”

Updates on Laboratory Evaluation of Feline Cardiac Diseases

“…By analyzing these liquids, the ongoing pathological process could be better framed [60,61]. In a study of six cases with pericardial effusion, a population of immature lymphoid cells of medium-to-large size was observed with cytological diagnosis of lymphoma (three cases were classified as T-cell and three as B-cell lymphoma) [62]. CHF and portal venous hypertension can be associated with the formation of a protein-rich transudate, as it has been shown in 15.6% of 396 cats, as a result of increased intravascular hydraulic pressure in the liver or lung [61].…”