Feline upper respiratory tract lymphoma: site, cyto-histology, phenotype, FeLV expression, and prognosis.

Abstract

Lymphoma is the most common feline upper respiratory tract (URT) tumor. Primary nasal and nasopharyngeal lymphomas have been evaluated as distinct pathological entities; however, data on their differing clinical behavior are missing. A total of 164 endoscopic- guided URT pinch biopsies were formalin fixed and routinely processed. Imprint cytological specimens were stained with May Grünwald-Giemsa. Immunohistochemistry for anti-CD20, CD3, FeLVp27, and FeLVgp70 was performed. Prognostic significance of clinicopathological variables was investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Lymphoma was diagnosed in 39 cats (24%). Most cats with lymphoma were domestic shorthair (32 [82%]), were male (F/M = 0.56), and had a mean age of 10.3 years (range, 1-16 years). Lymphomas were primary nasal in 26 cats (67%), nasopharyngeal in 6 (15%), and in both locations (combined lymphomas) in 7 cats (18%). Neoplastic growth pattern was diffuse in 35 cases (90%) and nodular in 4 (10%). Epitheliotropism was observed in 10 cases (26%). Tumor cells were large in 15 cases, were small and medium in 11 cases each, and 2 had mixed cell size. Submucosal lymphoplasmacytic inflammation was observed in 23 cases (59%). Cytology was diagnostic for lymphoma in 12 of 25 cases (48%). A B-cell origin prevailed (34 [87%]). Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) p27 or gp70 antigen was detected in 21 lymphomas (54%). URT lymphomas were aggressive, with survival varying from 0 to 301 days (mean, 53 days). Epitheliotropism in 8 B-cell lymphomas (80%) and in 2 T-cell lymphomas (20%) correlated with prolonged survival. Age younger or older than 10 years had a negative prognostic value. Lymphoplasmacytic inflammation and FeLV infection may represent favoring factors for URT lymphoma development.

• Authors: S F Santagostino, C M Mortellaro, P Boracchi, G Avallone, M Caniatti, A Forlani, P Roccabianca
• Journal: Veterinary pathology (Vet Pathol) Vol. 52 Issue 2 Pg. 250-9 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 1544-2217 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24903757 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2014.

Topics

• Animals
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Cat Diseases (diagnosis)
• Cats
• Female
• Immunohistochemistry
• Leukemia Virus, Feline (physiology)
• Lymphoma (diagnosis, veterinary)
• Lymphoma, B-Cell (diagnosis, veterinary)
• Lymphoma, T-Cell (diagnosis, veterinary)
• Male
• Phenotype
• Prognosis
• Respiratory System (pathology)