Lymphoma is the most common gastrointestinal tumour of cats. It splits into two diseases that behave very differently: a slow low-grade (small cell) form that responds to oral drugs, and a fast high-grade (large cell) form that needs multidrug chemotherapy. The practical difficulty is separating low-grade lymphoma from inflammatory bowel disease, which share signs and ultrasound findings.
Key facts
Gastrointestinal lymphoma (small cell or large cell) at a glance- Species and system: cat, GI tract (mainly small intestine).
- Signalment: older cats, typically 10 to 12 years; Siamese cats are predisposed.
- Low-grade (small cell): mostly mucosal, T-cell, small intestine; chronic weight loss and vomiting.
- High-grade (large cell): T or B cell, often forms masses; acute illness.
- Classic presentation: weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea over months in an older cat, with thickened bowel loops.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
11 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 10 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.