Response of nineteen cats with nasal lymphoma to radiation therapy and chemotherapy

Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2007 Jul-Aug;48(4):388-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2007.00262.x.

Abstract

The records of 19 cats treated for stage I nasal lymphoma with radiation therapy and chemotherapy were reviewed to determine response to therapy, treatment outcome and possible prognostic indicators. All cats were treated with megavoltage radiation therapy to a total dose ranging from 22 to 48 Gy (median dose = 42 Gy). All cats were prescribed at least 6 months of multiagent chemotherapy. The median progression-free interval for all cats was 945 days (31 months). Two cats did not achieve clinical remission. Of 17 cats evaluable for relapse, 10 (58.8%) were progression free during the entire follow-up period. Four cats (23.5%) suffered local recurrence, while three (17.6%) experienced distant relapse. The median survival time was 955 days (31.4 months). The only variable found to have a significant negative impact on survival was destruction of the cribriform plate before therapy (P= 0.002). The long progression free and survival times reported here indicate that cats with stage I nasal lymphoma treated with aggressive local and systemic therapy can have a favorable outcome when compared with other anatomic forms of lymphoma. Despite strong clinical responses to the multimodality therapy used, the fact that three (17.6%) cats relapsed distantly supports the recommendation that treatment with radiation therapy alone is insufficient until further prospective studies can be performed.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • California
  • Cat Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Cat Diseases / mortality
  • Cat Diseases / pathology
  • Cat Diseases / radiotherapy*
  • Cats
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma / radiotherapy
  • Lymphoma / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Nose Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Nose Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Nose Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Records / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome