Mary Allen
Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that is very rare in cats. In contrast to dogs, osteosarcoma in cats rarely metastasizes and in many cases can be cured with surgery.
Occurrence And Appearance
While osteosarcoma in dogs tends to occur on the limbs, the appearance in cats is more varied. We often find osteosarcoma in cats on the flat bones, for example on the skull bone or the pelvis. Osteosarcoma occurs less frequently in cats on the limbs, where it is often the result of injuries and broken bones. Symptoms include swelling of the affected leg and slowly progressive lameness. In addition to the “typical” limb tumors, cats also occasionally have so-called periosteal osteosarcomas, which give the impression in the x-ray that they are growing “next to” the bone. Diagnosis can often be made using X-rays. In the area of the head, computed tomography images are necessary to identify the extent and treatability of the tumor.
Therapy And Prognosis
Unlike dogs, osteosarcoma in cats can often be cured by surgically removing the affected bone or by amputating the affected leg. Since the tumor rarely metastasizes in cats, the prognosis after successful surgery is good and additional chemotherapy is usually not necessary.