Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cutaneous Spindle Cell Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Cats: Clinical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Study.
- Journal:
- Veterinary pathology
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Rodríguez Guisado, Francisco et al.
- Affiliation:
- 16750University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Spain
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
This study looked at a type of skin cancer called cutaneous spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma (SCSCC) in 18 cats, with an average age of about 12 years. Most of the tumors were found on the face, especially on the ears, and some were around the eyes or on the nose. The researchers used special tests to identify the cancer cells and found that sunlight exposure might play a role in causing these tumors. During follow-up, 14 out of 18 cats did not have any recurrence of the cancer, but three cats either had the cancer come back or were euthanized because it progressed, and one cat had cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes. Overall, the outcome varied depending on where the tumors were located and how aggressive they were, with more serious cases found around the eyes.
Abstract
This study describes the clinical and pathological characteristics of cutaneous spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma (SCSCC) in 18 cats. The average age of the cats was 11.8 ± 2.7 years, and all tumors were located in the facial skin, mainly affecting the pinna (13/18, 72%), followed by the periorbital area (4/18, 22%) and the dorsal muzzle (1/18, 6%). Tumors were composed of fusiform neoplastic cells with moderate atypia arranged in solid sheets or fascicles with foci of squamous differentiation. A panel of antibodies against cytokeratins, vimentin, S-100 protein, NSE, GFAP, Melan A, SMA, desmin, CD18, CD31, and p63 was used to help differentiate SCSCC from other spindle cell malignancies. SCSCCs expressed CK5/6 (17/18, 94%), AE1/AE3 (15/18, 83%), and p63 protein (18/18, 100%), but there was no immunolabeling for CK8/18. A role for sunlight exposure in the pathogenesis of the tumors was suggested by changes indicative of actinic keratosis, the location of the tumors in dorsal areas, and the absence of histomorphologic features of papillomavirus infection. Recurrence was not recorded in 14/18 cases (78%) during a follow-up period of 7 to 25 months. Three of 18 (17%) tumors recurred or led to humane euthanasia due to local progression, and one case (5%) had regional lymph node metastasis. Clinical outcome varied with cutaneous location, mitotic count, and invasion of surgical margins; thus, SCSCCs with a more aggressive behavior were located in the periorbital area (4/4 cases), had ≥14 mitoses in 10 high-power fields (2.37 mm) (4/4 cases), and showed invasion of surgical margins (3/4 cases).
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33577428/