Squamous cell carcinoma in cats develops from epithelial cells in the skin or mouth. In the first case, it is sometimes called solar dermatitis, although it has nothing to do with inflammatory processes. In the second case, cancer develops in the mucous membrane of the upper or lower jaw.
The complexity of this disease varies, usually it is a malignant neoplasm that has low dissemination. Squamous cell carcinoma in cats localized to the skin is treated mainly with surgery. Small tumors in the mouth are cut out, and larger tumors are treated with radiation or chemotherapy.
General description and mechanism of the disease
Squamous cell carcinoma in cats is a disease that develops from epithelial cells. The disease can develop in the mouth or on the skin.
The basis of cancer is made up of flat and round epithelial cells that have poor differentiation. Such cells are usually small in size, have a large nucleus and little cytoplasm. Sometimes they may have a large amount of cytoplasm, pericellular vacuolation and a small nucleus. In this case, they have the appearance of non-keratized angular cells.
Pathological transformations in cells occur under the influence of various factors (for example, excessive exposure to UV rays, chronic diseases).
Squamous cell carcinoma has three stages of development:
- cytological. Changes occur at the cellular level. Therefore, this stage is considered non-diagnostic. The cells may be poorly differentiated, small in size and with basophilic cytoplasm, or epithelial angular non-keratized with a high content of cytoplasm;
- dermatohistopathological. At this stage, irregular masses of keratinocytes of atypical structure are determined. The altered cells proliferate and invade the skin;
- regional. It assumes the formation of metastases in the lungs and regional lymph nodes. At this stage, diagnostic studies such as histology/cytology of lymph node tissue samples and radiography in 3 projections of the chest are effective.
This is a fairly aggressive disease that can spread quickly and form metastases. The disease occurs in 15% of pets. It is most often diagnosed in animals aged 10 years and older whose owners are active smokers.
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Malignant melanoma
It is a rapidly growing tumor, usually accompanied by ulceration and/or necrosis. Malignant melanoma can be pigmented or non-pigmented (amelanotic melanoma). Amelanotic melanoma is often difficult to diagnose and has a very aggressive course.
It is considered the most common oral malignancy in dogs and accounts for 30–40% of all oral malignancies in this species. In most cases, it occurs in older dogs due to some degree of oral pigmentation. Malignant melanoma is rare in cats, but its biological behavior in this species is the same as in dogs.
The most common localizations are the gums and mucous membranes of the lips, cheeks, but other localizations are also possible (on the palate, dorsum of the tongue). When gums are affected, teeth are often damaged and bone invasion is common.
How it manifests itself
The clinical picture of this disease depends on the type of disease. Skin cancer does not show any symptoms in the early stages of its development. As the disease progresses, the following signs appear:
- wounds on the skin heal slowly;
- abrasions and ulcers form that do not disappear for a long time. The ulcers crust over and bleed. They have convex edges. If the wounds are infected, they develop plaque and smell bad;
- non-healing purple spots of unknown etiology form on the skin. Externally, such areas of skin resemble cauliflower red cabbage;
- Hair loss occurs in damaged areas.
The symptoms described above resemble an infectious infection, which complicates the diagnosis of the disease. The fact that the diagnosis was made incorrectly is evidenced by the lack of response to treatment (the wounds continue to grow).
This type of cancer in the oral cavity appears as erosions and ulcers. The affected areas periodically fester. Therefore, the animal’s breath begins to stink strongly. The disease prevents the pet from eating normally, which leads to a decrease in its body weight.
Over time, a sick cat's gums begin to bleed, teeth become mobile, and profuse salivation is observed. If the cancer is localized in the upper jaw, nasal discharge may appear.
As the tumor grows, the bones become distorted, which is clearly visible from the outside. If nothing is done, there is a risk of pathological fractures.
Treatment of breast tumors and other neoplasms
After all diagnostic measures have been carried out, the veterinarian will prescribe appropriate treatment.
There are three forms of cancer treatment: surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy or radiation.
The first method is the most effective, but it is carried out only if there are no metastases. The surgeon removes the malignant tumor under general anesthesia. After surgery, the animal is given chemotherapy to destroy any remaining abnormal cells.
Radiation therapy involves exposing a cancerous tumor to ionizing radiation. The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia in two ways: remote (irradiation occurs at a distance from the animal) and contact (the radiation source is introduced into the tumor itself or the cavity in which it is located).
The third type is chemotherapy. It is often combined with surgical removal of the affected tissue. The procedure involves intravenous infusion of toxic drugs that have a detrimental effect on cancer cells.
During chemotherapy treatment, your cat may lose all of its hair.
Such infusions are carried out several times according to a specific schedule. Usually the following drugs are used for treatment: Vincristine, Cisplatin, Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide, etc. Medicines are prescribed only by a veterinarian.
Chemotherapy has serious side effects: hair loss, nausea, lethargy, and digestive problems.
Types of cancer
Today, there are two types of squamous cell carcinoma in cats: skin and oral cavity.
Skin
Squamous cell skin cancer in cats usually develops on the nose, ears, and corners of the mouth (in areas where there is little hair). Often occurs due to prolonged exposure of the animal to direct sunlight.
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The risk group includes cats that live in warm and hot climates. But this type of cancer also occurs in northern latitudes. Most often, animals with white fur or light spots suffer from this disease. Also, the risk of developing cancer increases as you age.
This form rarely leads to the formation of metastases. Sometimes they are found in lymph nodes located close to the site of the lesion.
Oral cavity
This form of squamous cell carcinoma in cats develops under the tongue, on its surface, in the tonsil area or on the upper palate. Doctors suggest that this disease is formed due to the habit of cats to lick their fur.
Cancer is caused by carcinogens that get on the wool when it is treated with anti-mite or anti-flea agents. Chronic inflammation of the oral cavity (for example, stomatitis) can also trigger the disease.
Treatment of pathology in cats
Laser therapy is effective at the onset of the disease.
Therapy depends on the location and stage of the disease. Squamous cell skin cancer in the very first stages, when the pathology has not grown and metastasized, is removed using a laser. At later stages, the pathology is surgically removed. If therapy is carried out on time, the doctors' prognosis is favorable. When the disease affects the lymph nodes, a course of chemotherapy is necessary. But this method is considered less effective, since it affects internal organs more than the skin. Therefore, such treatment is prescribed only in the presence of metastases. If the tumor has affected the animal’s nose, it is removed to the beginning of the upper jaw, and then reconstruction is carried out. Education that cannot be treated is treated with radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
The following medications are used:
- "Cisplatin";
- "5-fluorouracil";
- "Carboplatinum".
If the cancer has spread to the oral mucosa, immediate surgery is recommended. This method of therapy becomes more difficult if the carcinoma in cats has affected bone tissue. This development is most likely if the tumor occurs on the roof of the mouth or under the tongue. Chemotherapy is ineffective in this case. To reduce the chances of metastasis, it is advisable to resort to radical resection. This type of squamous cell carcinoma is more likely to recur.
Features of treatment
Treatment for cancer depends on its location. With timely initiation of treatment, the skin form is often completely cured. Tumors are removed surgically. Small tumors are eliminated by laser ablation. If lymph nodes or other organs are affected, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is performed.
In the oral cavity, cancer is removed through surgery. In this case, irradiation is ineffective. Treatment often involves a combination of radical resection and radiation. This reduces the risk of metastasis.
Methods for diagnosing cancer diseases
Diagnosis of cancer is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- First, blood and urine are taken from the animal. Using tests, the functioning of internal organs is assessed.
- X-ray. This type of examination allows you to detect metastases that have spread throughout the body. For breast cancer, an X-ray is called a mammogram.
- Ultrasonography. In this way, tumors that are located shallowly can be detected. A biopsy is also performed using ultrasound.
- Biopsy. It is carried out in three ways: using a puncture, an endoscope and surgically. In the first case, tumor particles are taken with a special needle (the material is drawn into a sterile syringe) or an endoscope (a few affected cells are pinched off). In the third method, biomaterial is collected during surgery, and the surgeon can completely remove the tumor or take only a small piece of tissue for examination.
Biopsy is the most accurate analysis for oncology
Prevention measures
To prevent the development of squamous cell carcinoma, you need to adhere to the following preventive measures:
- minimize your pet’s exposure to the street in bright sunshine – from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
- on a hot day, be in the shade with your cat;
- When the first symptoms appear, consult a veterinarian.
Squamous cell carcinoma in cats is a serious disease that requires timely and professional treatment. Otherwise, the animal will experience discomfort and may even die from related ailments.
Diagnostics
An initial examination of a pet by a specialist will not provide the necessary data even for making a diagnosis. It is necessary to conduct a histological examination
scraping, biopsy, ulcer impression. After this, the presence or absence of metastases should be determined. To do this, a biochemical and general blood test is performed.
Lymph nodes and lungs need to be carefully examined using X-rays, and 3 projections of the chest should be made to determine the presence or absence of metastases. If possible, CT or MRI should be used as they provide more information. It is also necessary to perform cytology or histology of the lymph node biopsy.
Detailed description of possible diseases
It must be remembered that even young cats develop growths in the mouth of a benign or malignant nature. Unfortunately, without a number of diagnostic measures, it is very difficult to distinguish squamous cell carcinoma from epulis. Also, we should not forget about papillomas, which are very often found on the gums, inner lips and cheeks of decorative breeds. Depending on the age of the animal, it is necessary to exclude the following possible options that provoked the problem:
Eosinophilic granuloma. Recently it has been found very often even in outbred cats. It mainly affects the lips, gums, tongue and palate. Red growths the size of a pea appear in the mouth, which transform into ulcers over the course of the process. The formations are accompanied by pain, so refusal to eat is considered a characteristic symptom. The appearance of eosinophilic granulomas is closely associated with allergies, so the first step is to correct the diet. If the animal eats natural food, then they switch to premium dry food. Pets are switched from dry food to hypoallergenic. Changing bowls and toys is also shown. If possible, keep your animal's contact with plastic objects to a minimum. It is better to use glass or ceramic dishes. Eosinophilic granulomas tend to resolve on their own, therefore, with single lesions, the development of the process is most often observed. Treatment is prescribed for multiple lesions accompanied by discomfort for the pet.
Papillomas. May appear as growths in the mouth in cats aged 2-7 years. Reaches the size of a pea. Viral papillomas very often go away on their own within a few months. Congenital papillomatosis most often manifests itself in several formations at once, localized on the gums, nasopharynx and the inside of the cheeks. Papillomas are often injured during eating, thereby causing bleeding in the mouth, which can be confused with inflammation of the gums. Only a doctor can determine the need and method of removing papilloma, no matter where in the mouth it is located. But, you need to remember that by removing one formation, there is no guarantee that another will not appear in the same place.- Epulis. Benign neoplasms affecting the oral mucosa. Growths in a cat's mouth may be epulis if the cat is no more than 5 years old. In adults, the possibility of malignant tumors is excluded. Epulis can severely deform the gums and is often localized around the fangs, gradually growing to large sizes. Some veterinarians consider fibrous epulis a rare disease in cats (commonly found in Sphynx, Maine Coon and exotic cats), related to precancerous conditions. Even single formations should be examined by an oncologist to exclude melanoma and sarcoma. In some cases epulis is like this
grows along the gums, which begins to grow on the teeth. This all leads to pain in the animal while eating. As the process progresses, severe bleeding, swelling and redness of the gums appear. Gingivitis is almost always associated. The pet experiences severe pain even at rest. Therefore, it is recommended to remove epulis at the initial stage, when the process has not spread to the entire gum. - Malignant formations. At the initial stage, they may appear as small growths in the mouth. Most often found in adult cats after 7 years of age. During the embryonic stage, the animal is almost never disturbed. This is considered the main reason for the late detection of malignant tumors in the mouth in animals. Typically, pet owners notice a problem with the appearance of a putrid odor from the mouth or bleeding gums during meals. Unfortunately, even a careful examination will be of little information for making a diagnosis. To confirm or exclude the malignant nature of the formation, a biopsy and histological examination of its cells are necessary. For sarcomas and melanomas, the prognosis is cautious, regardless of the age of the animal and timely detection. Even surgical intervention (if it is possible) does not guarantee a positive result. Especially if there are metastases in the submandibular lymph nodes.
Any growths in your cat's mouth should be examined by a veterinarian, as most of them can be removed as soon as possible.
