Felis ISSN 2398-2950
Mediastinal lymphoma
Synonym(s): Thymic lymphoma, thoracic lymphoma
Contributor(s): Laura Garrett, Philip K Nicholls
Introduction
- Lymphoma in the thorax of cats affects the lymph nodes in the cranial mediastinum and/or the thymus.
- Mediastinal/thymic lymphoma comprises 10-20% of feline lymphomas Lymphoma.
- Cause: most (>80-85%) cases are associated with feline leukemia virus which can cause malignant transformation of lymphocytes.
- Signs: associated with respiratory system (dyspnea, coughing, tachypnea) and/or esophagus (anorexia, regurgitation, dysphagia, drooling).
- Diagnosis: radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, cytology, histopathology.
- Treatment: thoracocentesis, chemotherapy, radiation therapy.
- Prognosis: FeLV negative cats have a much better prognosis than FeLV positive cats.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Most (>80-85%) cases are associated with feline leukemia virus Feline leukemia virus disease, which can cause malignant transformation of lymphocytes.
Specific
- FIV+ cats are at increased risk for development of lymphoma Lymphoma.
Pathophysiology
- Clinical signs arise from:
- (1) Compression/invasion of local mediastinal structures.
- (2) Pleural effusion Pleural effusion, contributing to respiratory distress (along with direct effects of mass).
- Hypercalcemia Hypercalcemia: overview is rare in thymic lymphoma.
- Thymic lymphomas tend to be T-cell in origin. FeLV is a retrovirus of the family Oncovirinae. Viral integration into the host genome activates host proto-oncogenes such as c-myc. Disease spectrum appears to be determined by key sequences in long terminal repeats and surface glycoprotein (SU) envelope genes of the virus.
Epidemiology
- Incidence may be falling due to use of FeLV vaccines.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Chandhasin C, Coan P N & Levy L S (2005) Subtle mutational changes in the SU protein of a natural feline leukemia virus subgroup A isolate alter disease spectrum. J Virol 79 (3), 1351-1360 PubMed.
- Henninger W (2003) Use of computed tomography in the diseased feline thorax. J Small Anim Pract 44 (2), 56-64 PubMed.
- Teske E, van Straten G, van Noort R et al (2002) Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone (COP) in cats with malignant lymphoma: new results with an old protocol. J Vet Intern Med 16 (2), 179-186 PubMed.
- Kristal O, Lana S E, Ogilvie G K et al (2001) Single agent chemotherapy with doxorubicin for feline lymphoma: a retrospective study of 19 cases (1994-1997). J Vet Intern Med 15 (2), 125-130 PubMed.
- Malik R, Gabor L J, Foster S F et al (2001) Therapy for Australian cats with lymphosarcoma. Aust Vet J 79 (12), 808-817 PubMed.
- Gabor L J, Malik R, Canfield P J (1998) Clinical and anatomical features of lymphosarcoma in 118 cats. Aust Vet J 76 (11), 725-732 PubMed.
- Vail D M, Moore A S, Ogilvie G K et al (1998) Feline lymphoma (145 cases): proliferation indices, cluster of differentiation 3 immunoreactivity, and their association with prognosis in 90 cats. J Vet Intern Med 12 (5), 349-354 PubMed.
- Day M J (1997) Review of thymic pathology in 30 cats and 36 dogs. J Small Anim Pract 38 (9), 393-403 PubMed.
- Davies C & Forrester D S (1996) Pleural effusion in cats: 82 cases (1987 to 1995). J Small Anim Pract 37 (5), 217-224 PubMed.
- Anilkumar T V, Voigt R P, Quigley P J et al (1994) Squamous cell carcinoma of the feline thymus with widespread apoptosis. Res Vet Sci 56 (2), 208-215 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Ettinger S J & Feldman E C (2005) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 6th Edition. Elsevier Saunders.
- Iyer D, LeRoy B E, Latimer K S & Moore H (2005) Feline Leukemia Virus Infection A Review. Available at URL: http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/iyer/ Accessed 6th November 2005.
- Rogers K S (2001) Ch 68 Evaluation and treatment of cranial mediastinal masses. In: August, J. R. (ed.) Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine 4, pp 533-540. WB Saunders Co.
- Tilley P & Smith F W K The 5 Minute Veterinary Consult, 3rd Edition. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
- Withrow & MacEwen Small Animal Clinical Oncology, 3rd Edition. Saunders.