Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are common in cats and behave very differently from canine MCTs. A cat can have a skin tumor, a splenic or other visceral tumor, or an intestinal tumor, and any of these can spread to involve several organs. Disseminated (systemic) mast cell disease is the form that sends mast cells into the blood, marrow, liver and nodes.
Key facts
Disseminated mast cell tumor at a glance- Species and system: cat; hemic and lymphatic.
- Forms: cutaneous, visceral (splenic and hepatic) and intestinal. MCT is the most common splenic tumor, second most common skin tumor and third most common intestinal tumor in cats.
- Classic presentation: older cat with weight loss, inappetence, vomiting and splenomegaly, with or without mast cells on a buffy coat smear.
- Cause: not known; many tumors carry activating KIT mutations, mainly in exons 8 and 9.
- Treatment of choice for splenic disease: splenectomy, with H1 and H2 blockers.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 8 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.