Also known as lymphoma, lymphosarcoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It is responsible for almost one third of all cancers diagnosed in cats. It arises from lymphoid tissue, which is found throughout the body & may involve any organ or tissue.

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels found throughout the body. These vessels transport lymph, a clear fluid containing protein, water, minerals & white blood cells. The role of the lymphatic system is to;

• Filter out bacteria & debris
• Manage fluid levels in the blood
• House white blood cells (also known as lymphocytes)

Cats with feline leukemia virus are 60 times more likely to acquire lymphosarcoma than those without. Cats living in smoking households are twice as likely to acquire lymphosarcoma. [2]

There are no breed or sex predilections. The average age of cats with lymphosarcoma is 3 years for those who are FeLV positive & 7 years for those who are FeLV negative.

Symptoms of lymphosarcoma in cats:

• Clinical signs lymphosarcoma vary depending on the organ/tissues involved.
• Common symptoms include;
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Other signs depend on the specific location.

Multicentric:

Multicentric lymphoma affects the multiple lymph nodes & organs. Spleen, liver & bone marrow may also be involved.

Symptoms of multicentric lymphoma may include;

Enlarged lymph nodes

As the disease progresses other symptoms may develop such as;

• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Fever
• Depression

Mediastinal:

• Mediastinal (also known as thymic) lymphsarcoma occurs in the thymus, which is located in the chest (between the lungs) & anterior mediastinal lymph nodes. Mediastinal lymphoma can cause fluid to accumulate around the lungs (pleural effusion).
• Mediastinal lymphoma is the most commonly found lymphoma in FeLV positive cats & is seen more frequently in younger cats around 2 to 3 years of age.

Symptoms may include;

• Dyspnoea (difficulty breathing)
• Coughing

Alimentary:

Alimentary lymphosarcoma occurs in the stomach, intestines, liver & spleen. It is the most common form of lymphoma. [1] The average age for alimentary lymphoma is 8 to 9 years.

Symptoms may include.

• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Weight loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Fever.
• Loss of coat condition.
• Palpable abdominal mass may be present or a thickening of the intestine.

Extranodal/miscellaneous:

Extranodal lymphoma or miscellaneous lymphoma occur most commonly in the kidneys, eyes, nasal cavity, CNS, skin or heart.

Diagnosis of lymphosarcoma in cats:

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination & obtain a medical history from you.

Tests your veterinarian may perform include;

• Complete blood count.   Anemia & circulating lymphoblasts (immature cells normally found in the bone marrow, but may be found in the blood in cats with lymphosarcoma) may also be found.
• Biochemical profile & urinalysis can reveal the overall health of your cat. These tests may also reveal abnormalities in affected organs such as abnormal kidney function, elevated liver enzymes, hypercalcemia.
• FeLV & FIV test.
• X-ray or ultrasound may reveal abnormalities such as thickening of the intestines, abdominal masses or enlarged organs.
• Fine needle aspiration/cytology or biopsy/histopathology of tissue samples is necessary to confirm the presence of lymphosarcoma.
• Bone marrow aspirate/cytology is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of bone marrow lymphosarcoma & document bone marrow involvement with other forms of lymphosarcoma.

Clinical Staging:

Clinical staging is necessary to determine the extent of tumour involvement.

1. Stage I: Single lymph node involvement only.
2. Stage II: Several lymph nodes involved within a regional area.
3. Stage III: Generalised lymph node involvement.
4. Stage IV: Involvement of the liver and or spleen.
5. Stage V: Any of the above with bone/bone marrow involvement or other organs (skin, gastrointestinal, kidneys etc.)

Treatment of lymphosarcoma in cats:

In a few cases, if the tumour is limited & easy to access, surgical removal may be possible.

The mainstay of treatment for lymposarcoma in cats is chemotherapy, a combination of drugs will be used. This is generally well tolerated by cats although they may experience a few side effects such as anorexia or lethargy.

Supportive care such as fluids to correct dehydration.

Prognosis:

Prognosis varies depending on several factors such as  the location & extent of the tumours & the FeLV status of the cat, response to chemotherapy, stage of the disease.

References:

[1] The Feline Patient - Gary D. Norsworthy, Mitchell A. Crystal, Sharon K. Fooshee & Larry P. Tilley.

[2] Science Daily