Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a malignant tumour of vascular endothelial cells. In cats it appears as a skin or subcutaneous mass or as a tumour in an abdominal organ, and it matters on the NAVLE because the visceral form ruptures and presents as collapse with a hemoabdomen. (The benign counterpart, hemangioma, is a well-circumscribed vascular mass that is cured by excision; the two are told apart on histopathology.)
Key facts
Hemangioma at a glance- Species and system: cat; hemic/lymphatic (vascular endothelium).
- Cause: unknown for visceral disease; ultraviolet exposure is linked to skin forms, especially in white-coated cats (MSD).
- Classic presentation: a red-purple skin mass on a sparsely haired, pale area, or collapse with pale gums, anaemia and abdominal effusion.
- Signalment: older cats; the MSD Manual notes that angiosarcomas seem to occur most often in older neutered males.
- Behaviour: locally invasive and likely to metastasise; the MSD Manual calls it the soft-tissue tumour most likely to grow fast and spread.
- 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, 3 self-test questions and 7 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.