Mammary carcinoma, usually an adenocarcinoma, is the main cancer of the feline mammary gland. In the cat, unlike the dog, most mammary masses are malignant, spread early to lymph nodes and lungs, and are best treated by wide surgery as early as possible. The best prevention is spaying young.
Key facts
Mammary adenocarcinoma at a glance- Species and system: cat; mammary gland tumour (reproductive system).
- Malignancy: about 80 percent of feline mammary masses are malignant, adenocarcinoma being the most common type (MSD; Gimenez 2010).
- Typical patient: older, mostly entire female; Siamese and Oriental breeds may be predisposed (Morris 2013).
- Prevention: spaying before 6 months cut risk by 91 percent and before 1 year by 86 percent in one case-control study (Overley 2005).
- Treatment: staging, then radical mastectomy (unilateral or staged bilateral).
- Prognosis driver: tumour size, along with grade and lymph node involvement.
What's inside
14 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
- Practical approach to a cat with a mammary mass
- Owner communication and follow-up
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 3 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 8 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
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