Home Pulpitis Fibrosarcoma of soft tissues in cats prognosis. Fibrosarcoma in cats and dogs

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Fibrosarcoma of soft tissues in cats prognosis. Fibrosarcoma in cats and dogs

Veterinarians note that oncological diseases It occurs quite often in cats. By analogy with treatment in humans, it does not always have a positive effect in the case of pets. The most difficult case is sarcoma in cats, ultimately leading to the inevitable death of the animal.

Some types of cancer can be treated with drugs. But their impact is Negative influence for all functions of the cat's body. Sarcoma, unfortunately, is practically incurable due to its too rapid development.

What is sarcoma and its causes?

Sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm, built primarily from connective tissue cells, most often synovial membrane. The aggressiveness of the disease is noted, rapid spread metastasis and virtually no symptoms in early stages. Therefore, more than half of the cats and cats that are diagnosed with sarcoma cannot be saved.

Sarcoma is being studied by scientists and veterinarians and many types have already been identified. However, the greatest danger is posed by:

liposarcoma;
fibrosarcoma;
microsarcoma

Synovial tissue lines the joints and can regenerate quite quickly. Damage to them by diseased cells leads to the spread of the disease into the connective tissues. Therefore, soft tissue sarcoma in cats and paw bones are equally dangerous. Such malignant formations can arise suddenly and anywhere, without any connection to organs, metastasize instantly, and even surgical intervention may be delayed.

Another difficulty lies in the fact that the disease does not manifest itself in any way early period. And rapid spread will not give a clear picture of which organ the sarcoma began to destroy the cat’s body. The exact location from which the tumor started and metastasized, for example, to the kidneys of an animal, is completely impossible to determine.

Veterinarians find it difficult to name the exact cause of sarcoma in cats, but suggest that it may be a consequence of:

negative impact of carcinogens;
as a result of viral infections and diseases.

Signs of sarcoma and clinical picture

Sarcoma can be called a “silent” cancer, the symptoms of which do not appear until the destruction of the affected organs becomes critical. TO external manifestations the following can be attributed:

a tumor on a joint or anywhere, it is noted that it grows very quickly;
lameness, which may seem minor at first, but subsequently the cat is practically unable to walk on the limb;
refusal of food, which leads to sudden weight loss;
lethargy of the animal, desire to constantly sleep, lack of interest in favorite games;
a pain symptom that torments an animal, depriving it of sleep and rest.

Any of the listed symptoms is a reason to contact veterinary clinic. Cat owners should know that delay here can be fatal and lead to death for the pet.

Post-vaccination complications

There have been cases where, after standard vaccination, animals developed cancer. A seemingly harmless preventive measure became the cause of post-injection sarcoma in cats. It is difficult for veterinarians to explain the reason and mechanism of such a reaction; this is only a feature of the animal’s body, its response to the administration of the drug or inflammation at the injection site.

The most complete statistics on the disease were collected by American doctors, since there is a focus on vaccination of pets great attention. However, there is no exact answer or conclusion about the cause. It is difficult to answer why after a regular injection a tumor can form - post-vaccination sarcoma in cats, from which it dies quickly and painfully.

Diagnostics

Of course, only the owner of the animal can detect the symptoms. Only from his words will the veterinarian draw conclusions about the prescription clinical trials. taken for analysis:

blood;
tumor cells.

Only studying the material will give an accurate answer about the nature of the neoplasm. In addition, it is assigned X-ray examination affected area in order to draw conclusions to what extent the sarcoma has affected nearby tissues.

Note that in some cases, when the disease has not yet deeply penetrated the cat’s body, surgical intervention aimed at excision of the affected area is possible. This will significantly reduce the cat’s quality of life, but will protect it from death. Agree that you can live without one limb, but for a few more years.

Treatment

After sarcoma has been identified in a cat, conclusions are drawn about its spread and prediction of treatment results. The feasibility of treatment is also decided and the veterinarian makes a decision on its tactics. It is noted that only correct definition depending on the type of tumor and proper treatment methods can give a successful result.

Single type tumor. It is preliminarily determined how significantly the tissues closest to it are affected. Then surgically The tumor itself and the affected areas are removed. If a sarcoma of a limb is detected, the limb is amputated.
Post-vaccination sarcoma. It is necessary to appoint not only surgical method removal, but also therapeutic treatment with specific drugs before and after surgery.
The tumor is unresectable. Requires chemotherapy, which often gives a positive result.

Doctors note the fact that the result of treatment for sarcoma directly depends on the time of its detection. If it was possible to “capture” the disease at an early stage, then surgical intervention can give a good result in defeating it.

Preventive measures

If we talk about prevention, it is difficult to give recommendations that will definitely protect a cat from sarcoma. You can only reduce the risks to a minimum by reducing the impact of carcinogenic substances on the animal’s body, boosting the immune system with vitamin supplements and good nutrition.

Cat owners need to know what to cure sarcoma folk remedies or completely impossible on your own. The rapid development of the disease can take away the pet’s precious health with every minute and therefore it is necessary to immediately take it to the clinic. Only a correct diagnosis and competent treatment will help prolong the cat's life.

VETERINARIAN CONSULTATION REQUIRED. INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

Malignant tumors include fibrosarcoma in cats, which leads to death if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. pet. Diagnosing a neoplasm in the early stages is problematic because for a long time Clinical signs diseases do not make themselves felt. When a cancer tumor grows to large sizes, then the cat has strong pain, under skin A compaction forms, it is difficult for the pet to move, and the gait becomes unstable.

What is fibroid associated with?

Veterinarians have still not been able to fully determine the causes of fibrosis. Often pathological growth cancer cells occurs after vaccination. Post-vaccination fibrosarcoma is characterized by active growth, but rarely leads to metastases.

Cats often develop cancerous tumors under the influence of the following factors:

consumption of low quality feed;
unfavorable environmental conditions;
intake of dirty drinking water;
bad heredity.

Often the cause of fibrosarcoma in cats lies in the influence of oncogenic viruses that live in the body of every pet from the first days of life. Oncology is inherited from a female or male. If in at a young age If your pet has contracted a recombinant form of feline leukemia bacteria, then after some time there is a high probability of fibroma formation.

A benign formation manifests itself in the soft tissue area and over time develops into a malignant one.

A cancerous tumor forms in the soft tissue area due to a disrupted process of fibroblast division. This type of cancer also affects the bones, causing the cat to develop fractures, severe bruises. In advanced cases, amputation of the anterior or hind paw. Fibrosarcoma appears after the use of oil antibiotics. In this case, the pet first develops a benign tumor, which quickly develops into oncology.

How to recognize the disease?

There are highly and poorly differentiated post-vaccination sarcoma in cats, while the latter is more aggressive and more often metastasizes in internal organs, including remote ones. Owners can sometimes diagnose fibrosarcoma early on if they regularly examine their pet. In appearance, the tumor consists of nodules ranging from 1 millimeter to 15 centimeters. In most cases, the cancer is irregular or round in shape. If a person does not diagnose fibrosarcoma in a cat in time, then not only its appearance, but also general state health. The following are the symptoms of cancer:

lumps under the skin;
loss of coordination;
altered and unstable gait of the cat;
swelling at the site of fibrosarcoma formation;
pain syndrome when palpating the tumor.

The most popular places for the formation of a cancerous tumor are the withers, ears, sides, chest, paws and stomach.

Diagnosis of the disease

Making a diagnosis involves a number of procedures, including ultrasonography.

Post-injection sarcoma in a cat can masquerade as other diseases for a long time, which is why owners do not carry out treatment on time. When the tumor has grown to a large size, the pet experiences severe pain upon palpation. If swelling appears, you should take your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible, who will help recognize oncology and select treatment. If fibrosarcoma is suspected, the following diagnostic procedures are performed:

biopsy;
cytological examination;
histology to determine the tumorigenicity of cells;
ultrasound examination of the damaged area;
chest x-rays.

Treatment: main methods

If, after vaccination, a cat exhibits symptoms of fibrosarcoma, then therapy should be started immediately. When tightening and delaying therapeutic measures the pet's general condition rapidly deteriorates, metastases occur in nearby and distant internal organs, as a result of which the animal dies. Post-vaccination sarcoma cannot be treated with medications alone, to completely get rid of cancerous tumor surgical intervention is required. The method of treatment and recovery for oncology is prescribed by a veterinarian based on the results diagnostic examinations. Before performing the operation, the specialist determines the location of the malignant formation, its size and degree of oncogenicity.

A special collar will help prevent scratching of the postoperative wound and the introduction of infections there.

When fibrosarcoma is advanced and complicated by metastases, chemotherapy is administered to suppress the activity of pathogenic cells. After surgery, the pet is given a special neck collar to prevent the cat from scratching. postoperative wounds. In this way, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of infection and complications of pathology. After surgery to remove fibrosarcoma, it is prohibited to take the cat outside for 14 days. If the wound becomes swollen, bleeding or has an inflammatory reaction, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Oncology in last years has become very common throughout the world. Bad ecology, poor quality food and dirty water- these are the main factors that contribute to its development. Just like humans, our pets can also get cancer. One of its most common types is fibrosarcoma in cats.

This is a tumor that develops from fibroblasts of the skin and subcutaneous connective tissue. They have a predisposition to local relapses, but metastases are rare. Unlike sarcomas (a related type of neoplasm), fibrosarcomas do not grow so aggressively; affected animals have a much better chance of recovery. The causes are not completely clear (as with any other type of cancer). The emergence of oncology can be viewed from the point of view of the confluence of several unfortunate factors. Scientists believe that it often develops as a result of the action of oncogenic viruses, many of which are present in the animal’s body initially and can be inherited. The mortality rate from fibrosarcomas in cats reaches 5-20%, depending on age and medical care.

Feline sarcoma retroviruses (recombinant forms of feline virus - FeLV) are very dangerous, as they are responsible for the occurrence of fibrosarcoma in young cats and “stimulate” the appearance of multiple tumors in animals over five years of age. The virus destroys the genome and causes chromosomal changes. Oddly enough, in some cases a person may be to blame.

Diagnostics

Well, the most obvious manifestation of this disease is a tumor. Fibrosarcoma is a rather aggressive formation, so that when it is palpated, the animal experiences pain. Again, unlike sarcomas, ulcers and non-healing fistulas in their place are much less common (although this also happens). As we said, this type of cancer rarely metastasizes, but locally it grows quickly, and often even deep-lying tissues are affected. Thus, fibrosarcomas on the leg often lead to ugly swelling of the limb. This happens due to compression lymphatic vessels and ducts. In some cases, inflammation of those lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) that are located closest to the tumor itself may occur.

Read also: Mycoplasmosis in cats: causes, symptoms, treatment

An accurate diagnosis can only be made in clinical settings. The specialist will take a sample from the affected area (biopsy) and conduct a cytological and histological examination of it. Under a microscope, you can only determine that a tumor is cancer, but you cannot find out about its specific species. It is very important to examine the edges of healthy and diseased tissue, since their condition depends on the prognosis. If the border between the neoplasm and normal skin is more or less visible, then there is hope for recovery. Otherwise, the chances are much less.

Therapy and important notes

What treatment is there for this type of cancer? Standard therapeutic methods is radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, in recent years there have been many reports that it is fibrosarcomas that are difficult to respond to such methods without surgical intervention. Simply put, if the tumor can be excised, then chemotherapy will indeed help destroy its remains, but attempts to destroy it with medications have little effect on the entire tumor. Even radiation therapy for fibrosarcoma in a cat will probably only lead to a short-term remission, which will not last long without surgical intervention.

Sometimes there are cases when small sarcomas spontaneously stop developing and “fall asleep.” But it’s difficult to say how long that hibernation will last: a cat can live with the neoplasm until old age, or it can die in six months when its growth suddenly resumes. Some surgeons practice a gentle method of treating such “dormant” fibrosarcomas: they cut large vessels leading to the tumor (naturally, it should be small). This often helps, but in this case you need to carefully monitor the condition of the dying tumor in order to remove it immediately. Otherwise, collapsing tissue can not only cause sepsis, but also contribute to the development of metastases, which in normal conditions fibrosarcomas practically do not give.

Oncological diseases occur very often in pets - this is the price to pay for a high life expectancy, which would be impossible in wildlife. Reasons for appearance malignant tumors Only predisposing factors are not yet known with certainty. However, an aggressive tumor is registered in cats, which is not without reason called “post-vaccination sarcoma”. It often appears at the site of vaccination or other injections and is very dangerous.

Causes

The appearance of fibrosarcoma in cats is associated with inflammatory reaction tissue for injection. As numerous studies have proven, a tumor does not necessarily cause a tumor; any locally irritating substances are dangerous (,). Therefore the correct international name– post-injection sarcoma. Such a term does not create fear of mandatory vaccination and negative attitudes towards pharmacists.

The tumor is called vaccine-associated sarcoma (VAS) because it begins to grow after the use of vaccines containing aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant. In cats it is:

mainly a vaccine against;
less often - from leukemia.

Inflammation at the site of vaccination occurs in almost all animals; this is an immune response to foreign invasion. But it develops into an oncological process only in 1 case out of several thousand.

There is a hypothesis about genetic predisposition cats to fibrosarcoma, which is confirmed by its occurrence on different dates life in animals from the same litter.

Clinical signs and diagnosis

Post-vaccination sarcoma is a very characteristic tumor, which an experienced veterinarian should suspect without additional research after the inspection.

The fact of vaccination or other injections is that a tumor can appear both several months and several years after vaccination.
It is located in the place where the injection was made (most often - the withers, between the shoulder blades, less often - the thigh).
Post-vaccination sarcoma does not occur in very young people or average age from 6 to 11 years.
The tumor is dense, painless on palpation, with clear boundaries.
Sudden rapid growth.

Often, owners are aware of the presence of a tiny, dense nodule on a cat's withers, but are unaware of the need to see a doctor. Then this formation begins to grow so quickly that the veterinarian already sees a huge mass that rises above the shoulder blades, like a hump. Along with the size of the tumor, the volume of surgical intervention increases and the prognosis worsens. Sarcoma reaches a diameter of several centimeters in just a few weeks.

Cytology (the study of tumor cells under a microscope) is used to confirm the diagnosis. The material is taken without anesthesia using a regular syringe. If you need to clarify the size of the tumor and its location, do computed tomography or x-ray. The pictures show whether the bones (spine, shoulder blades) are involved in the tumor process.

Before starting treatment, you will need studies of the whole body:

ECHO of the heart;
X-rays of light;
Ultrasound abdominal cavity;
and blood tests;
as well as other tests that the attending physician deems necessary.

Treatment

If the tumor is detected at an early stage, treatment may be successful. The main method of combating such a tumor is radical surgery. This term means that in addition to the tumor itself, the doctor must remove:

3-5 cm of visually healthy tissue around;
and at least one muscular fascia in the space under the tumor.

Even if the tumor is small, the scope of the operation with this approach is impressive. If the sarcoma is already the size of a fist or more, the intervention becomes frighteningly traumatic. Often the surgeon is forced to remove part or all of the scapula and saw the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae. Sometimes an animal loses a limb.

The veterinarian must convince the owners of the need to carry out radical surgery, and master the basics of reconstructive surgery - plastic surgery - in order to close a huge defect after tumor removal.

This uncompromising approach is due to the fact that post-vaccination sarcoma recurs - it produces repeated, even more aggressive growth at the site of removal. It almost does not metastasize to other organs (unlike the one that affects lung tissue), but it is almost impossible to prevent relapse after surgery. Correct wide excision stops the process, allowing you to forget about the problem for a year and a half. But the average lifespan of cats after a diagnosis of post-injection sarcoma is only 2-3 years.

The best results are obtained by a combination of surgery and radiation therapy, but only a few veterinary clinics have such capabilities.
Chemotherapy is used less often - mainly to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery.

Prevention

Sometimes, when faced with post-vaccination sarcoma in cats, owners subsequently refuse to vaccinate their pets at all. This is a fundamentally wrong approach, because viral infection the animal may die. There are a number of recommendations that can minimize the risk of vaccine-associated tumors.

Vaccine selection

Drugs latest generation practically do not cause irritation at the injection site.

There is a rabies vaccine that does not contain aluminum hydroxide, that very dangerous adjuvant. This is Purevax Feline Rabies from the French company Merial.
Unfortunately, not all clinics have it in stock; cats are more often vaccinated with the usual Rabisin. Owners have to look for the drug themselves.

Injection site

If complications from the vaccine are expected, the injection site should be chosen taking into account possible surgical intervention.

Injections into the tail are suggested, but this is too painful and is therefore not practiced.
You can inject just below the knee subcutaneously, or intramuscularly into the thigh.
Even in the case of the traditional injection of the vaccine into the withers area, this can be done not directly above the spine, but by stepping back to the right or left, above the shoulder blade or ribs.

Formation of oncological alertness

After vaccination, owners must independently monitor whether their pet is okay. When examining the vaccination site, pay attention to the presence and size of the compaction.

The swelling should completely disappear after 1-2 months; if it persists longer, an examination is necessary. veterinarian.
If the tumor is more than 2 cm in diameter or is increasing, then the visit should not be delayed. Time has great value in the case of fibrosarcoma.

Fewer injections

Clinicians should avoid administering drugs by injection to cats if alternatives are available.

The antibiotic Sinulox is available in the form of subcutaneous injections and in the form of tablets.
The same is true for methylprednisolone and hundreds of other drugs.

Owners should try giving their cat the medication by mouth before choosing an injectable form.

Conclusion

Post-vaccination sarcoma is one of the most terrible cat diseases. It can only be dealt with in the early stages, so cat owners should not neglect preventive examinations at the veterinarian. When scheduling vaccinations, it is better to choose vaccines without adjuvants and then observe the injection site. If you suspect sarcoma, you should consult an oncologist in a modern veterinary center. This is the only way to ensure adequate surgery, pain relief in postoperative period and, if necessary, radiation therapy.

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Unfortunately, it is diagnosed quite often. Animals can get it, just like people. Oncological diseases bring a lot of suffering to pets and their owners, since in most cases they are incurable. Despite the fact that scientists around the world are searching effective ways fight against cancerous tumors, to date they have still not been found. The drugs prescribed for treatment have a rather negative effect on the body as a whole, poisoning not only malignant tumors, but also vital organs.

If we talk about cancer in general, it is worth noting that there are several varieties. One of the most aggressive is sarcoma. Let's talk about it in this article.

Sarcoma (cancer) - what is it?

Sarcoma (cancer) in cats is an insidious disease. Characterized by the formation of malignant tumors. They consist mainly of connective tissue.

The peculiarity of sarcoma is aggressiveness. With this form, metastases affect neighboring organs in a short period of time. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to determine the development of the disease in the early stages, since it occurs without visible symptoms.

In cats, other types of illness most often lead to fatal outcome. The main reason for such serious consequences is late diagnosis. As a rule, surgical intervention no longer brings positive results.

Currently, many types of sarcoma are known. They are studied by scientists. In their opinion, the most dangerous are the following:

fibrosarcoma;
liposarcoma;
myxosarcoma.

Modified cells originate in synovial tissue. Due to their rapid growth in as soon as possible connective tissue is damaged. Malignant formations can affect both tissue and bones of the animal. As a rule, they arise suddenly, localizing in any place without exception.

Classification

Sarcoma in cats is divided into two groups according to location, affecting either soft tissue or hard tissue.

This disease can also be classified according to other parameters. Depending on them, the following types are distinguished:

Post-injection - a tumor forms in the withers area.
Rhabdomyosarcoma - affects striated muscle.
Liposarcoma is a cancer of the fat layer that often causes lumps to form on a cat's abdomen.
Fibrosarcoma is a lesion of fibrous tissue.
Osteosarcoma is a malignant process that occurs in the bones.

In veterinary practice, the latter type is found in 80% of cases, so it is considered the most common. When metastases grow, any organs and The lymph nodes.

Stages

Like any cancer, sarcoma in cats has four stages of development. They directly influence the choice of treatment and prognosis:

First stage. The disease occurs without symptoms. It is already possible to palpate the formations, but they are quite small in size - up to 5 cm. The tumors have clear boundaries. Metastases have not yet formed. When the disease is diagnosed at this stage, most animals have a good chance of recovery. Veterinarians believe that the tumor will respond well to treatment.
Second stage. Tumors (bumps) on a cat’s stomach or anywhere else reach sizes of more than five centimeters. They lose clarity of boundaries. There is a tendency to rapidly increase, but metastases have not yet formed.
Third stage. It differs from the first two in that adjacent lymph nodes are affected by metastases.
The fourth stage is the last and most dangerous. With it, metastases have already spread to all organs. Therapy is selected in such a way as to simply alleviate the cat’s condition. The prognosis is unfavorable. If the disease is diagnosed at this stage, it is recommended to euthanize the animal, since the chances of recovery are zero.

Causes

Why does sarcoma appear in cats? Unfortunately, scientists cannot yet specifically answer this question. It is believed that the disease can be triggered by the following factors:

action of carcinogens;
viral infections.

It also cannot be ruled out hereditary factor. Many doctors agree that if there is oncology in the family, then in 60-70% it can develop in the younger generation of animals.

Clinical manifestations

It is useful for all owners to know how sarcoma manifests itself in cats. This will help detect the disease at an early stage. The main thing, even at the slightest suspicion, is to immediately contact a veterinary clinic for an examination.

So, let's look at the signs of sarcoma:

Problems with movement, often lameness.
Decreased activity.
The appearance of tumors, after a certain time they increase.
Fracture of limbs.
Decreased appetite or complete refusal to eat, resulting in anorexia.
Severe painful spasms, due to which the animal’s behavior radically changes. It is imperative to take painkillers, as the pet may die from pain shock.

Post-vaccination complications

Post-vaccination sarcoma in cats is a type of cancer in which a malignant tumor forms in the places where vaccinations were given. Localization area: withers. Why is this happening? Doctors still cannot give a clear answer to this question. There is a version that modified cells begin to grow due to inflammation of the injection site. Manifested by education is quite big shot. It will have an irregular shape. The tumor grows into neighboring tissues. It will feel quite hard to the touch and may expand to large sizes. This type sarcoma affects neighboring tissues in just a few weeks. The animal suffers greatly during this time and quickly dies.

Diagnostics

Only the owner will be able to notice the first symptoms and changes in the pet’s behavior. But diagnosis and treatment should be made by a qualified specialist. When you contact the clinic, a blood test is prescribed. The animal is also examined and the formations are palpated. Their nature can be determined after a biopsy. To do this, cells are taken from the tumor for research. You can determine the extent of organ damage by taking an x-ray of the cat.

Based on the results obtained, the doctor prescribes treatment. What therapy will be depends on the stage of the sarcoma.

Treatment

Most cancers are difficult to treat. The fact is that the effect on tumors is strong chemicals, which significantly worsen the general condition of the animal. In some cases (with stage four sarcoma), doctors frankly tell the owners that the treatment will not bring the desired effect, so it is recommended to euthanize the animal. With this development, this is the only humane way that will free your pet from suffering.

Sarcoma in cats can also be treated surgically. However, this method is only possible if the formation has not had time to metastasize.

It is worth noting that on initial stages correctly selected drug therapy and surgical intervention give a positive result.

If a single type formation is detected, it is recommended to remove it. All affected areas are also excised. If the tumor appears on the paw, the limb is amputated.

A doctor may also diagnose an unresectable sarcoma in a cat. In this case, the animal is prescribed a course of chemotherapy.

It is worth noting that surgical intervention will significantly worsen the animal’s quality of life, but will save it. This is the only way to completely defeat cancer in the early stages. As for chemotherapy, everything will depend on general health pet. Young individuals, although it is difficult, still tolerate such treatment. But cats that are more than 10 years old rarely survive.

Preventive measures

Any specific preventive measures does not exist. The only thing that can be recommended to owners is to limit exposure to carcinogenic substances as much as possible. Also, do not forget about strengthening your immune system. Currently, stores sell a variety of vitamins and complex supplements that will help your pet’s diet become complete. You should not refuse vaccination, because injections can be given intramuscularly.

It is important to understand that sarcoma cannot be treated at home. Moreover, there are no effective traditional methods to fight it. The owner will only lose precious time, but will not save the life of his pet.

Fibrosarcoma is a tumor that forms in soft tissues, the result of a disrupted process of division of fibroblast cells - the main cells of the connective tissues of the body. In rare cases, tumors form in the bones, thereby weakening the body's bone structure. The most tragic consequences of this are fractures and even amputations of limbs.

In most cases fibrosarcoma bones is benign tumor and proceeds without metastasis. But there are cases when a malignant blastoma (cancerous tumor) metastasizes throughout the body and affects internal organs, lymph nodes and skin.

The clinical picture of fibrosarcoma is similar to osteogenic (osteosarcoma) - the most commonly known form of bone cancer. The main difference is the nature of the tumor. Osteosarcoma is formed from bone material, and fibrosarcoma is formed from collagen fibers (collagen is a connective tissue protein). So the absence of bone tissue in the tumor when examined by biopsy indicates the presence of fibrosarcoma.

The rapid development of the disease due to the division of pathogenic cells represents real threat and disrupts the integrity and stability of the bone skeleton. In most cases the tumor is benign in type. It is often mistaken for a cyst (cyst), protective membrane, or blister. Sometimes they are even diagnosed as muscle pathologies. The nature of this disease is not clear

Symptoms and signs

Impaired movement, unsteady gait

Palpation of blastoma in the damaged bone area

Swelling at the site of sarcoma

Limb fractures without other signs of trauma

Diagnostics

Will need full story illnesses with detailed description past illnesses or injuries that may in this case contribute to the development of the disease. There will be a general and biochemical tests blood, urine test. The presence of an excessively large number of leukocytes (white blood cells) clearly indicates a deterioration in health and the need for hospitalization. Rest standard procedures They will help determine the condition of the organs and the entire body, but they may not reveal similar pathologies.

Due to the fact that, as mentioned above, fibrosarcoma is quite rare disease, before x-rays are taken, it is often diagnosed as a muscle tumor or cyst (cyst). Therefore, it’s difficult to post without pictures accurate diagnosis. X-ray will help identify the nature of the location of the sarcoma and possible development metastases to other organs of the body. Very appropriate here computed tomography method d To determine the degree of development of the disease.

A final diagnosis will require tumor biopsy. Of course, this is the most unsightly way to diagnose the disease, but it is still the only option to determine the benignity (malignancy) of the sarcoma. Usually, this procedure Due to its pain, it is performed with anesthesia.

Treatment

The treatment method for fibrosarcoma is radical in nature - it is carried out surgery with removal of the pathogenic zone in the area of the cancerous tumor or a piece of damaged bone. In rare cases, it becomes necessary to completely amputate a limb. A tumor that has managed to develop into multiple zones throughout the body no longer gives a comforting prognosis. But do not forget that not all fibrosarcomas are of the same origin, and some may occur without the development of metastases. Therefore, even simple removal of a cancerous tumor gives a good chance of a complete recovery.

Rehabilitation

After the course of treatment, it is recommended to periodically do examinations to determine the likelihood of complications and development of metastases. You will need to create a schedule of examinations with your treating veterinarian, which includes a set of standard tests and analyses. The speed of recovery of the body will depend on the size of the tumor and the type of damaged organ.

You may notice that your cat will feel unwell after surgery. In this case, to relieve any discomfort, the veterinarian will prescribe a course of painkillers. But be careful with medications, because a possible overdose promises no less trouble.

Precisely and carefully Follow all doctor’s recommendations during the rehabilitation period. Find a quiet and peaceful place for your pet where she will not be disturbed by household members, children and other pets. It would be nice to design a special cage - a “hospital tent”. The veterinarian will tell you later when it will be possible to return to moderate physical activity.

Important for the period postoperative recovery control your cat's diet. If she does not show any cravings for food, it is necessary to give food in small doses through a tube so that all the necessary nutrients are supplied to the body for recovery. The veterinarian will show you how to use a feeding tube and help you create a diet.

In veterinary practice, oncological diseases are quite common. As in the case of humans, they bring a lot of grief and suffering, since methods of treating cancer are still not very effective, and the drugs that are used for this, in some cases, have a rather negative effect on the animal’s body. One of the most aggressive varieties is sarcoma in cats, which often leads to the death of pets.

This is a malignant neoplasm, the “ancestor” of which is connective tissue cells. Even among “human” doctors, sarcoma has an extremely bad reputation, since this type of oncology is very different aggressive behavior and rapid expansion of body tissues. Most often sarcoma lower jaw in the cat (like its other species) it is formed from the cells of the synovial membrane. These tumors are dangerous because they are not “linked” to any specific organ, and therefore can arise anywhere and anytime. Differing even from others malignant neoplasms, they generally do not have any more or less pronounced boundaries, are extremely difficult to respond to operative (surgical) therapy, and often give metastases.

Another difficulty is that suspicion of sarcoma does not arise immediately, since until the very end it can be mistaken for a post-vaccination (for example) complication.

What is synovial tissue?

The synovial membrane is a layer soft fabric lining the surfaces of the joints. Its cells are distinguished by their ability to relatively rapid division, since they simply need to change frequently in order to compensate for their natural decline. Their precursors can differentiate at an early stage: either epithelial cells (skin cells) appear from them, or they turn into fibroblasts ( connective tissue). Thus, sarcoma of the paw bones in a cat has much in common with a similar skin lesion. But is synovia the only one to blame? No, because they exist different types sarcoma:

Microsarcoma.

Liposarcoma.

Oncological diseases occur very often in pets - this is the price to pay for a high life expectancy, which would be impossible in the wild. The causes of malignant tumors are not yet known with certainty, only predisposing factors. However, an aggressive tumor is registered in cats, which is not without reason called “post-vaccination sarcoma”. It often appears at the site of vaccination or other injections and is very dangerous.

Causes

The appearance of fibrosarcoma in cats is associated with an inflammatory tissue reaction to the injection. As numerous studies have proven, a tumor does not necessarily cause, any locally irritating substances are dangerous (,). Therefore, the correct international name is post-injection sarcoma. This term does not create fear of mandatory vaccination and a negative attitude towards pharmacists.

The tumor is called vaccine-associated sarcoma (VAS) because it begins to grow after the use of vaccines containing aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant. In cats it is:

mainly a vaccine against;
less often - from leukemia.

There is a hypothesis about the genetic predisposition of cats to fibrosarcoma, which is confirmed by its occurrence at different stages of life in animals from the same litter.

Clinical signs and diagnosis

Post-vaccination sarcoma is a very characteristic tumor that an experienced veterinarian should suspect without additional research after examination.

The fact of vaccination or other injections is that a tumor can appear both several months and several years after vaccination.
It is located in the place where the injection was made (most often - the withers, between the shoulder blades, less often - the thigh).
Post-vaccination sarcoma does not occur in very young people; its average age is from 6 to 11 years.
The tumor is dense, painless on palpation, with clear boundaries.
Sudden rapid growth.

Cytology (the study of tumor cells under a microscope) is used to confirm the diagnosis. The material is taken without anesthesia using a regular syringe. If you need to clarify the size of the tumor and its location, a computed tomography or x-ray is done. The pictures show whether the bones (spine, shoulder blades) are involved in the tumor process.

Before starting treatment, you will need studies of the whole body:

ECHO of the heart;
X-rays of light;
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
and blood tests;
as well as other tests that the attending physician deems necessary.

Treatment

3-5 cm of visually healthy tissue around;
and at least one muscular fascia in the space under the tumor.

The veterinarian must convince the owners of the need for a radical operation, and master the basics of reconstructive surgery - plastic surgery - in order to close the huge defect after tumor removal.

The best results are obtained by a combination of surgery and radiation therapy, but only a few veterinary clinics have such capabilities.
Chemotherapy is used less often - mainly to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery.

Prevention

Sometimes, when faced with post-vaccination sarcoma in cats, owners subsequently refuse to vaccinate their pets at all. This is a fundamentally wrong approach, because the animal can die from a viral infection. There are a number of recommendations that can minimize the risk of vaccine-associated tumors.