Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common primary bone tumor in cats, but skeletal tumors are much rarer in cats than in dogs. The point for the NAVLE is that feline OSA behaves less aggressively than canine OSA: cats treated by amputation often live a year or more, and some live years. Recent studies show it is still not a benign tumor, because many cats develop metastases.
Key facts
Osteosarcoma at a glance- Species and system: cats; musculoskeletal (also occurs in soft tissue).
- Cause: malignant tumor of bone-forming cells; the trigger is not known.
- Classic presentation: lameness, bone swelling or a nontraumatic pathological fracture (MSD).
- Key tests: radiographs of the bone and thorax; biopsy with a Michele trephine or Jamshidi needle.
- Treatment: amputation for limb tumors; chemotherapy is debated.
- Prognosis: MSD gives a median survival of 2 to 4 years after amputation; recent series give about 15 to 17 months, with metastasis in about a third to a half of cats.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Axial and extraskeletal osteosarcoma
- Reading the survival numbers
- Prognosis and comparison with dogs
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 5 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.