Gastric Lymphoma in Cats
Lymphoma is the most common type of gastric tumor found in cats. Gastric lymphoma usually spreads to other areas of the body, and for this reason chemotherapy may be part of the treatment plan. Gastric lymphoma is difficult to detect because its symptoms are very similar to inflammatory diseases.
Other People Are Reading
-
Identification
-
Gastric lymphoma is a malignant tumor that is found in the cat's stomach. Two forms of lymphoma may present: diffuse lymphoma or nodular lymphoma. Both forms often spread to other areas of the body, making the prognosis for cats with lymphoma vary with each case. The average survival time for cats with gastric lymphoma ranges from two months to one year.
Symptoms
-
The symptoms associated with gastric lymphoma in cats include vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, anorexia, constipation and diarrhea. In some cats, an abdominal mass could be felt by the veterinarian.
-
Diagnosis
-
In order to diagnose gastric lymphoma in cats, the veterinarian takes a health history and performs a physical examination. He feels the cat's abdomen to locate any masses. X-rays may be taken, as well as an abdominal ultrasound. A veterinarian may perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
-
The preferred treatment of gastric lymphoma in cats is surgery to remove or resect the tumor. At this time, the veterinarian may biopsy other lesions in the area to rule out additional malignancies. Chemotherapy may be used after surgery in order to reduce the chances of additional tumor development.
Risk Factors
-
Gastric lymphoma can affect cats of any breed or any age, but it is more common in older (over 12 years) cats. Gastric lymphoma has no known specific causes in cats. It is thought by veterinarians to be caused by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and may even appear in cats that test negative for the virus.
-
References
- Photo Credit kitten image by Annika from Fotolia.com
