Principles of treatment for vaccine-associated sarcomas

In the last decade, there has been a great deal of information surrounding the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of feline vaccine-associated sarcomas. The presence of a mass in areas used for subcutaneous or intramuscular injections should alert the clinician to the possibility of a vaccine-associated sarcoma. Early detection and subsequent treatment is paramount to limit local invasion and distant metastasis. The current data are suggesting that a team approach with multi-modality therapy is the appropriate way to address this disease. In the following article, we will discuss the history/incidence, pathology, diagnosis, and current treatment options, which include a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy for vaccine-associated sarcomas.