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Cutaneous Neoplasia in 340 Cats

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Cutaneous Neoplasia in 340 Cats

M. A. Miller, S. L. Nelson, J. R. Turk, L. W. Pace, T. P. Brown, D. P. Shaw, J. R. Fischer and H. S. Gosser
Vet Pathol 1991 28: 389
DOI: 10.1177/030098589102800506

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Vet Pathol 28:389-395 ( 199 1)

Cutaneous Neoplasia in 340 Cats

M . A. MILLER , S. L. N ELSON, J. R. T URK, L. W. PACE , T. P. BROWN ,
D. P. SHAW, J. R. FISCHER, AND H. S . GOSSER

Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory , University of Missouri,

Columbia, MO

Abstract. A total of 340 cases of cutaneous neoplasia were diagnosed in 340 of 3,564 cats that were examined
by biopsy or necropsy during a 41-month period from January I , 1986 through May 3 1, 1989. Eighteen types
of tumor occurred, but four types comprised 77% of the cases. These were basal cell tum or, 89 cases (26%,
mean age 10.3); mast cell tumor, 72 cases (21%, mean age 8.6); squamous cell carcinoma, 52 cases (15%, mean
age 11.6); and fibrosarcoma, 50 cases (15%, mean age 10.2). For each of these four types of tumors , peak number
of cases occurred in cats older than 10 years. Mast cell tum or was the only tumor diagnosed in cats younger
than I year. The head was the most common site for basal cell tumors, mast cell tumors, and squamous cell
carcinomas. The legs were the most common location of fi brosarcomas . Siamese cats had approximately three
times as many mast cell tumors as statistically expected, but only one-fourth as many squamous cell carcinomas.
Breed predilection for other skin tum ors was not apparent. Sex predilection was not detected for any skin tumor.
Key words: Basal cell tumor; cat; cutaneous neoplasms; fibrosarcoma; mast cell tumor; squamous cell
carcinoma.

In most stud ies, skin has been second only to th e
lymphoid syste m as the most co m m on site of tumors
in th e caL I4.25.31.35 A lthough some ea rly surveys lack
diagnoses of mast cell tumor,9,11 ,26 ba sal cell tu -
mor,4.1 4.25.26 or fibrosarcoma," more recent British,"
German," and Swiss" reports have cited fibrosarcoma ,
basal cell tumor, squamous cell carcinoma, and mast
cell tumor (with variation in order of prevalence) as
th e most co m mon feline skin tumors. These fou r tu -
mors had been reported as early as 1953 in a retro-
spec tive study of 26 feline skin tumors." Reports of
breed,13,20,31 ,36 sex,23,31.34 and sit e2.1 3.34 predilect ion for
th ese tumors are frequently contradictory, The pur-
poses of our study were to determine th e relative in -
cide nce of feline ski n tumors in our population during
th e 41-month period from January 1, 1986 through
May 31 , 1989 and to detect a ny breed , sex , or site
predilections for th e m ore co m m on neoplasms.
Materials and Methods
The population for this study consisted of 3,564 cats, the
tota l num ber of feline cases studied by biopsy or necropsy
at the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic
Laboratory from January I , 1986 through May 3 1, 1989.
The age of these cats ranged from fetal to 27 years (mean
age, 6.6 years). Breed, age, and sex distributi on of the cats
are summarized in Table 2.
We reviewed all cases with a histopath ologic diagnosis of
cutaneo us neoplasia, excluding tumors of the mamm ary or
cerumino us glands. These 340 tumors in 340 cats were clas-
sified according to published criteria." All tissues had been
fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin ,
389
sectioned, and stained with hemat oxylin and eosin, Other
histologic stains (mainly, Giemsa and toluidine blue) were
used at the discretion of the case pathologist.
The histologic diagnosis, signalment, and sites of the tu-
mors are summarized in Tables I , 2, and 3, Data were eval-
uated for statistical significance by adjusted chi-square anal-
ysis, Follow-up information was not available for these cats,
Results
Ski n tumors com prised 9. 6% of feline necr op sy or
biopsy accessions during th e 41 -month study . The skin
sites accounted for 29 .6% of all neoplasms diagnosed
in the cats, m aking it the most common sit e for tumors
in our laboratory, Eighteen different types of cutane o us
neoplasms were recognized . Sex di stribution and age
ofaffected ca ts are su m marize d for each tumor in Table
I. Sign ificant sex pred ilection wa s not apparent for an y
skin tumor. Site d istribution of th e tumors is sum -
marized in Table 3.
Basal cell tumor, mast cell tumor, squamous cell
carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma were the m ost commonly
diagnosed tumors, com pris ing 77.1 % ofall skin tumors
d iagnosed during th e study period. The in ciden ce of
th ese four com m on tumors is su m marize d by breed in
T able 2.
Basal cell tumor
Basal cell tumor (8 9 cases) was th e most common
skin neoplasm , and wa s present in 26.1 % of th e ca ses.
Breed pred ilection was not det ected. The head was th e
m ost common sit e ( 17/ 46 cas es), followed by th e trunk,
neck , and legs. Eight of 17 tumors on th e head were

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390 Miller et al.

Ta ble 1. Type of neoplasm, number of cats , ma le : female ratio, and median and mean age of 340 cats with cutaneous
neoplasms.

Type of Neoplasm Number of Cats Male: Female Median Age in Years Mean Age in Years
(% total) Ratio (range) (range)
Basal cell tumor 89 (26. 1%) 1.22 10.0 (1- 18) 10.3 (1-18)
Mast cell tumor 72 (21. 1%) 0.81 8.5 (0.2-19) 8.6 (0.2-19)
Squamous cell carcinoma 52 (15.2%) 1.16 12.0(1-19) 11.6 (1-19)
Fibrosarcoma 50 (14.7%) 0.96 10.0 (1-18) 10.2 (1-18)
Sebaceous ad enoma 15 (4.4%) 0.50 10.0 (6- 18) 10.7 (6-18)
Fibroma I I (3.2%) 1.75 7.0 (2-13) 7.9 (2-13)
Apocrine adenocarcinoma II (3.2%) 1.00 10.0 (7- 15) 11.0 (7-15)
Apocrin e ad enoma 10 (2.9%) 0.43 12.0 (7-2 7) 12. 1 (7-27)
Malignant fibrous hist iocyt oma 9 (2.6%) 0.29 9.0 (5-15) 10.1 (5-15)
Hemangiosarcoma 6 (1.8%) 2.99 13.0 (9-17) 13.0 (9-17)
Hemangioma 4(1. 2%) 3.00 11.5 (7-15) 11.2(7-15)
Melanoma 3 (0.8%) 0.50 10.0 (8-1 7) 11.7 (8-17)
Lymphosarcoma 2 (0.6%) 1.00 11.0 (9-13) 11.0(9-13)
T richo epithelioma 2 (0.6%) 1.00 5.5 (1-10) 5.5 (1-10)
Fibropapilloma I (0.3%) I female 18.0 18.0
Lipoma I (0.3%) I male 12.0 12.0
Undifferentiated carcinoma I (0.3%) I female 3.0 3.0
U nd ifferentiated sarcoma I (0.3%) I male ND* ND
* NO = not determined.

described by the referring veterinarian as on the face

or forehead; four were on the ear. Table 4 depicts his-
tologic subclassification of 88 basal cell tumors ac-
cording to presence ofcyst formation and melanin pig-
mentation. Epidermal ulceration occurred in 8/56
(14.3%) cystic tumors and in 13/32 (40.6%) solid basal
cell tumors.
Mast cell tumor
Mast cell tumor (72 cases) was the second most com-
mon skin tumor in 21. 1% of the cases. The head was
the most common site of this tumor followed by the
trunk and legs. Ten of 17 mast cell tumors on the head
occurred on the pinna, often near the base of the ear.

Table 2. Pre valence of skin tumors correlated with breed, male : fem ale ratio, and median and mean age in 340 cats.

Median Age in Years Mean Age in Years %o f

Breed Male : Female Population
(n = number in population) Ratio (range) (range) (n = 3,564)

Abyssinian 1.00 3.0 3.6 1.37

(n = 49) (2 da ys-I 5 years) (2 days-I 5 years)
Angora I mal e 14.5 14.5 0.06
(n = 2) (14-15 years) (14-15 years)
Domestic Shorthair (m ixed) 0.90 7.0 7.0 80.80
(n = 2,880) (I day-25 years) (I da y- 25 years )
Himalayan 0.98 1.2 2.7 2.4 7
(n = 88) (fetal-I 6 years) (fetal-I 6 years)
Maine Coon Cat 1.14 1.0 5.1 0.42
(n = 15) (3 mon ths-1 6 years) (3 months-I 6 years)
Persian 0.87 1.0 3.4 5.60
(n = 20 1) (I day-I 7 years) (I day-I 7 years)
Ru ssian Blue 0.20 1.5 3.3 0.17
(n = 6) (6 months-8 years) (6 months-8 years)
Siamese 0.54 10.0 8.4 7.43
(n = 265) (I da y-27 years) (I day-27 years)
* Only breeds that comprised at least I % of the reference population or that had at least one diagnosis of a cutaneous neoplasm during
the study are listed (in alphabetical order).

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 Feline Skin Tumors 391

Seventeen of72 cats (23.6%) with mast cell tumor were carcinomas. The only Siamese cat with squamous cell
Siamese, yet Siamese cats comprised only 7.4% of fe- carcinoma had the only tumor of the genital skin (scro-
line accessions during the survey period. The incidence tum) in the series . A Persian cat had a digital squamous
of mast cell tumor during the survey period was 17/ cell carcinoma. Remaining cases were specified as Do-
265 Siamese cats (6.4%), over three times that expected mestic Shorthairs or mixed breeds. The head was the
(P < 0.005). most common tumor site. Twenty-one (67.7%) of the
Sixty-eight of the mast cell tumors were subclassified squamous cell carcinomas of the skin of the head were
as typical mast cell tumors or "histiocytic" mast cell on the pinna. Remaining sites on the head included
tumors" (Table 5). Most tumors were composed of the eyelid , chin , nose, and lip. Pigmentation of skin or
cords and nests of slightly atypical mast cells with ba- color of hair at the site of the tumor was seldom re-
sophilic round nuclei, ample eosinophilic cytoplasm, ported by referring veterinarians.
and distinct cell borders. Seven tumors consisted of
pleomorphic "histiocytic" cells that had larger, hy- Fibrosarcoma
pochromic oval or indented nuclei , more abundant Fibrosarcoma (50 cases) accounted for 14.7% ofskin
amphophilic cytoplasm, and indistinct cell borders. tumors in cats. Breed predilection was not recognized.
Cats with "histiocytic" mast cell tumors were of a Eight of 49 (16.3%) affected cats were under 5 years of
younger mean age. Two of the cats with "histiocytic" age. The limb and head were the most common sites
mast cell tumors were Siamese kittens (by the same (Table 3). Four of nine tumors on the head occurred
sire) with multiple dermal nodules , located on the head, on an ear. No cases were reported as having multiple
that regressed spontaneously.' In both types of tumor, tumors.
mast cells had infiltrated the dermis or subcutis and
contained metachromatic granules demonstrable with Other tumors
toluidine blue or Giemsa stains. Eosinophils were con- Fifteen cases (12 Domestic Shorthairs [80%], three
spicuous in only 33/68 (48.5%) mast cell tumors. The Siamese [20%]) of sebaceous adenoma accounted for
overlying epidermis was ulcerated in 18 cases (26.5%). 4.4% of the skin tumors. Even though the head was
the most common site, site was specified for only three
Squamous cell carcinoma tumors.
Eleven tumors (3.2%, all from Domestic Shorthairs)
Squamous cell carcinomas (52 'cases) comprised
were classified as fibromas, and the leg was the most
15.2% of skin tumors in cats. Siamese cats (7.4% of
common site.
the population) had only 1.9% of the squamous cell
There were eleven cases (3.2%) of apocrine adeno-
carcinoma and ten (2.9%) of apocrine adenoma. Two
Table 2. Extended. adenocarcinomas (18%) and one adenoma (9%) oc-
curred in Siamese cats; remaining cases were in Do -
% of mestic Shorthairs. The limb was the most common
% of % of % of
Squamous % of All Skin
Basal Cell Mast Cell
Cell
Fibrosar -
Tumors site of adenocarcinoma, while the head was the major
Tumors Tumors comas site for adenoma.
Ca rcinomas (n = 340)
(n = 89) (n = 72) (n = 50)
(n = 52) Nine (2.6%) malignant fibrous histiocytomas were
0 0 0 0 0 diagnosed. One tumor (II %) occurred in an Angora
cat; remaining cases were in Domestic Shorthairs. The
1.1 0 0 0 0.58 limb, particularly the foot, was the most common site.
Six hemangiosarcomas (1.8%) and four hemangio-
82.0 69.4 96.1 90.0 83.5 mas (1.2%) were diagnosed in Domestic Shorthair cats.
All hemangiosarcomas occurred on the head (three on
2.2 0 0 0 0.59 the ear) . One of two hemangiomas for which site was
indicated occurred on the head (nose); the other was
0 0 0 2.0 0.29 in abdominal skin .
Three melanomas (0.8%) occurred in Domestic
3.4 4.2 1.9 0 2.0 Shorthair cats, with one tumor in the lateral abdominal
skin and another on the shoulder. Site was not specified
0 1.4 0 0 0.29 for the remaining tumor. Two lymphosarcomas (0.6%)
and two trichoepitheliomas (0.6%) were diagnosed in
9.0 23.6 1.9 8.0 11.2 Domestic Shorthair cats. One tumor of each type oc-
curred on the chin , and the site for the remaining two
tumors (of each type) was unspecified.
One each of the following tumors were diagnosed: a

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392 Miller et al.

Table 3. Site di stribution expressed as % of total tumors of skin tumors in cats.

Neoplasm (number with site specified) % Miscel-

% on Head % on Neck % on Trunk % on Limb
laneous
Basal cell tumor (46) 37 17 24 17 4
Ma st cell tumor (27) 67 0 19 II 4
Squamous cell carcinoma (38) 82 2 2 II 3
Fibrosarcoma (27) 33 0 26 37 4
Sebaceous adenoma (3) 67 0 33 0 0
Fib roma (7) 28 14 0 57 0
Apoc rine ade noca rcino ma (8) 25 12 12 38 12
Ap ocrin e adeno ma (4) 50 0 25 25 0
Malignant fibrou s hist iocytom a (8) 12 0 12 62 12
Hemangiosar coma (6) 100 0 0 0 0
Hemangioma (2) 50 0 50 0 0
Melan oma (2) 0 0 50 50 0
Lymphosar coma (I) 100 0 0 0 0
Trichoepithelioma (I) 100 0 0 0 0
Fibropapilloma (0) NO* NO NO NO NO
Lip oma (I) 0 0 100 0 0
Undi fferentiated carcino ma (I ) 0 0 0 100 0
Und ifferentiated sarco ma ( I) 0 0 100 0 0
* ND = not determined.

fibropapilloma in an 18-year-old female Siamese cat , mon in oth er surveys (Table 6) and often unmentioned
site unspecified ; a lipoma on the dorsal trunk of a 12- in older reports,4,14,25,26 yet the frequency of basosqua-
year-old castrated male Domestic Shorthair cat; an mous pigmented tumors that seldom metastasized but
undifferentiated carcinoma on the foot of a 3-year-old sometimes recurred was noted as early as 1956.9 In a
female mixed-breed cat; and an undifferentiated sar- review of 124 feline basal cell tumors,13 which repre-
coma in the ventrolateral thoracic skin of a male Do- sented 10.9% of the feline cutaneous neoplasms, the
mestic Shorthair cat of unspecified age. authors suggested a predilection for long-haired breeds .
Long-haired breeds were not common in our popu-
Discussion lation, but no breed predisposition for basal cell tumor
During this 4 l-rnonth period , 340 cases ofcutaneous was detected. Female>' and mal e' ? sex predilections
neoplasia comprising 9.6% of feline pathologic acces- have been reported but were not recognized in another
sions and 29.6% offeline tumors were received. Eigh- survey " or in our cases. Although no site predilection
teen types of neoplasm were diagnosed , but four types was described in the review of 124 basal cell tumors,"
accounted for 77.1% of all feline skin tumors. These 17/46 tumors (37.0%) in our series occurred on the
four tumors, in order of prevalence in our study , were head. Multicentric basal cell tumor has been reported
basal cell tumor, mast cell tumor, squamous cell car- in one cat " but was not recognized in our series.
cinoma, and fibrosarcoma. These same four tumors Feline basal cell tumors have been classified as cystic
have been cited as th e most common in other recent or solid; cystic tumors are reportedly more common
surveys, although the order of prevalence has varied and more frequently pigmented, while nearly half of
among studies (Table 6). solid tumors are ulcerat ed.P Our basal cell tumors fit
into similar categories , but solid tumors were more
Basal cell tumor frequently pigmented than cystic tumors. Ninety-five
Basal cell tumor was the most common cutaneous percent of 124 basal cell tumors were less than 2.5 ern
neoplasm in our study. It has been relatively less com- in diameter; none recurred after surgery.13

Table 4. Subclassification of 88 feline basal cell tumors. Mast cell tumor

Mast cell tumor, often unmentioned in early sur-
Cystic Solid Total
veys,9,11,26has been the fourth most common feline skin
Pigmented 22 16 38 neoplasm in Europ ean studies 2,20,34 (Table 6) but was
Unpigme nted 34 16 50 second in our series of cases. Our data indicate in-
Total 56 32 88 creased risk of mast cell tumors for Siamese cats. Pos-

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 Feline Skin Tumors 393

Table s. Subclassification of 68 feline mast cell tumors.

Cell Median Age in Mean Age in % Dom estic

% Siam ese % Persian % Russian Blue
Morph ology Years (range) Years (range) Shorthair
Mast cell 10.0 9.9 72.1 24.6 3.3 o
(n = 61) (0.8-19) (0.8-19)
"Histiocyti c" 0.6 2.4 42.8 28.6 14.3 14.3
(n = 7) (0.1-8) (0.1-8)

sibly, geographic variation in the prevalence of mast Fibrosarcoma

cell tumor reflects variation in the proportion of Sia- Fibrosarcoma, unmentioned in an early report,II was
mese cats in the population. This proportion was not the fourth most common tumor in our study. Neither
reported in the European studies. Male sex predilection breed nor sex predilection was apparent in ours or in
has been reporteds-">' but was not apparent in our a previous study."
series. The head has been the most common site in Fibrosarcoma was more prevalent in European cats
previous studies," as well as in the present survey. and consistently ranked first in British," Swiss," and
Two histologic types of feline cutaneous mast cell German>' surveys offeline skin tumors (Table 6). Prev-
tumor have been described. " The typical mast cell alence of infection with feline leukemia virus may af-
tumor was a solitary circumscribed dermal nodule of fect the prevalence of this tumor. Feline sarcoma virus,
slightly atypical mast cells. Surgical excision generally which requires feline leukemia virus for replication and
cured the cat , although a few tumors with anisocytosis expression," induced progressive multicentric fibro-
and mitotic activity recurred or spread. The second sarcomas when inoculated in neonatal kittens.' ? Re-
type found almost exclusively in Siamese cats occurred sistance to virus-induced tumors increased with age.19.27
as subcutaneous nodules of mast cells that resembled In natural infection, virus-induced multicentric fibro-
histiocytes and lacked distinct cytoplasmic metachro- sarcomas tend to occur in cats under 5 years of age,?
matic granules after toluidine blue staining. Most cats while older cats tend to have solitary fibrosarcoma
affected by the latter type were under 4 years of age unassociated with feline sarcoma virus. " In our series ,
(this type has been reported in kittens") and had mul- 8/49 (16.3%) fibrosarcomas were in cats under 5 years
tiple tumors that regressed spontaneously. Although of age, but multiple tumors were not described by re-
this type of tumor was not recognized in another series ferring veterinarians. In another study, all 14 cats with
of feline mast cell tumors," we identified seven tumors fibrosarcoma were at least 8 years 01d.5 Vaccination
with similarities to the " histiocytic" mast cell tumor against feline leukemia virus may have reduced the
reported in young Siamese cats. Although this tumor prevalence of fibrosarcoma in Missouri cats, but nei-
occurred mainly in young cats in our study, only two ther vaccination history nor feline leukemia virus se-
cases were Siamese (nearly the same proportion as that rologic status were determined in our study or in the
ofSiamese cats with typical mast cell tumor) and meta- European surveys. Thus, it is difficult to estimate the
chromatic granules were readily demonstrated by his- contribution of feline sarcoma virus to the incidence
tochemical examination. Although considered malig- of cutaneous fibrosarcoma in these studies.
nant by some inv esugators.s-"-" most reported feline
cutaneous mast cell tumors have been behaviorally
Table 6. C o m pa riso n of relati ve tum or incidence ex -
benign."
pressed as % of total skin tumors in cats in surve ys of felin e
c uta ne o us neoplasms.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma, the third most common Squa-
Total
tumor in our laboratory, has also been the second or Basal Mast mous
Sur vey Cell Fibro- of Four
Cell Cell
third most common tumor in other recent studies2.20.34 Tumor Tumor Carci- sarcoma Commo n
Tumors
(Table 6). Lack of pigment and exposure to sunlight noma
increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma;' > so it is This stud y
not surprising that Siamese cats with th eir pigmented ( n = 340 ) 26.2% 2 1.2% 15.3% 14.7% 77.4%
ears had relatively fewer of these tumors than expected, British -
although this difference was not statistically significant. (n = 288) 14.8% 7.7% 17.4% 25.4 % 65.3%
Squamous cell carcinomas occurred in older cats in German>
this and a previous study." The pinna and facial sites (n = 585) 11% 6% 7% 43% 67%
were the most com mon in this and other stud- Swis s>'
ies.IO.II.1 4.15.25.34 (n = 358) 18.5% 9.8% 10.9% 25.5 % 64.7%

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394 Miller et at.

The thoracic skin was the most common site of fi- undifferentiated sarcoma each accounted for less than
brosarcoma in one study," while in another, 80% of I % of skin tumors in our population of cats. These
tumors occurred on the head or limbs." Still another tumors are generally considered rare ," although mel-
reference indicates that the limbs and the trunk are the anoma and lipoma were more common in a British
major sites offibrosarcoma. 24 Our findings support that survey," and melanoma may be induced by feline fi-
the limbs and head are sites of predilection. Tumor brosarcoma virus."
site and mitotic index, but not size, duration, or his- In summary, our data support the finding of Euro-
tologic appearance, correlate with prognosis; no cats pean investigators-w>' that basal cell tumor, mast cell
died after excision of fibrosarcomas from the pinna or tumor, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma are
flank, while 24/35 (70%) with tumors of the skin of the most common skin tumors of cats; however, there
the head, back or limbs were euthanatized for recur- are interesting discrepancies between our data and theirs
rence usually within 9 months of diagnosis. Eleven per in the relative incidence of these four tumors (Table
cent of the fibrosarcomas metastasized to the lungs.' 6). The population for each survey has consisted of all
This tumor is generally nonresponsive to radiation or feline submissions to a diagnostic service. Obviously,
chemotherapy." such a population is heavily biased toward sick cats
and may not accurately reflect the total population of
Other tumors cats. While computerization enabled us to determine
Sebaceous adenoma, described as a rare tumor of breed, sex , and age distributions in our population,
little importance in cats,9,25,26,31 accounted for 15/340 lack of such data from previous studies further ham-
(4.4%) feline skin tumors making it the fifth most com- pers comparison of results among these studies.
mon tumor in our series. It comprised 2.3% of feline Our survey indicates that skin tumors are an im-
skin tumors in a British study.' Sebaceous carcinoma, portant medical problem of cats, comprising almost
mentioned as a rare tumor in other studies," was not 10% of pathologic accessions at this laboratory. Cats
diagnosed in our laboratory during the survey period. are subject to a variety of cutaneous neoplasms, but
Fibroma is considered uncommon in cats" and ac- only four tumors (basal cell tumor, mast cell tumor,
counted for 2.7% of feline skin tumors in a British squamous cell carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma) are com-
study.' The tumor was more common in another series mon. Cutaneous neoplasia is mainly a problem of old
in which it comprised 10/83 skin tumors and was as cats. The head, particularly the ear, is a site of predi-
common as fibrosarcoma.v':' Most feline fibromas in lection for many skin tumors. Siamese cats have in-
our series were on a leg. creased incidence of mast cell tumor but not other skin
Apocrine tumors were approximately equally divid- tumors in comparison to other breeds. Other breed
ed between adenomas and adenocarcinomas and to- predilections are not evident in our cats. Sex predilec-
gether comprised 6.1 % of the skin tumors. They are tion was not detected for feline skin tumors.
unmentioned in some surveys--" and are generally con-
sidered rare in cats." These tumors occurred most Acknowledgements
commonly on the head or a limb.
Th e authors acknowledge the assi stance of Michael
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma usually occurred on
McGowan and Sandra Thomas in data retrieval.
a foot or elsewhere on a limb in our series. These
tumors often contain multinucleated cells 1,8,1 7and tend
to recur after excision." The limb has been a common References
site in previously reported cases, 1,29,32although another Allen SW, Duncan JR : Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
reference indicates that the dorsal thoracic and scap- in a cat. J Am Vet Med Assoc 192:90-91 ,1988
ular region is the most common site of this tumor in 2 Bostock DE: Neoplasms of the skin and subcutaneous
cats ." tissues in dogs and cats. Brit Vet J 142:1-19, 1986
Hemangioma was less common than hemangiosar- 3 Bostock DE, Dye MT : Prognosis after surgical excision
coma in our study and in a previous study" but com- of fibrosarcomas in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 175:727-
prised 6.3% of feline skin tumors in another survey- 728 , 1979
in which hemangiosarcoma was not reported. Both 4 Brodey RS: Canine and feline neoplasia. Adv Vet Sci
Comp Med 14:309-354, 1970
tumors are considered rare." Of 31 feline hemangio-
5 Brown NO , Patnaik AK, Mooney S, Hayes A, Harvey
sarcomas," 13 occurred in the skin (subcutis), partic- HJ, MacEwen EG: Soft tissue sarcomas in the cat. J Am
ularly of the head, trunk, and limbs. No metastasis of Vet Med Assoc 173:744-749, 1978
subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma was documented in 6 Buerger RG , Scott DW: Cutaneous mast cell neopl asia
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