MALIGNANT FELINE PRIMARY BONE TUMORS: INTEGRATING CLINICAL, RADIOGRAPHIC AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS TO IMPROVE DISEASE KNOWLEDGE IN CATS

Bone neoplasms are considered rare in feline species. Osteosarcoma (OSA) is responsible for 85% of malignant bone tumors in dogs and 70% in cats, however, demographic information regarding feline OSA is less reliable than in dogs, for being a less ommon disease. Apparently, cats develop osteosarcoma at a higher age average than dogs. Tumor clinical course is slower compared to canine one, especially in appendicular skeleton. Presented study evaluated 14 cases of primary bone tumors in cats, integranting clinical, imaging and histopathological analysis for better understading this disease in feline species. Male cats were the most affected ones (71,4%) and age average for neoplasia development was 9 years old. Bone sclerosis predominated in radiographic images, being justified by histopathological findings. Osteosarcoma (n=10) was the most frequent neoplasia, followed by chondrosarcoma (n=3). The most common osteosarcoma subtype was chondroblastic. The only diagnosed benign tumor was an osteochondroma. Metastasis rate was 46,2% affecting lungs, skin and other bones. The knowledge and relationship observed between clinical, radiographic and pathological findings in feline bone tumors must be taken into consideration to better prognostic determination and disease follow-up in cats.