Radiation-induced sarcoma in a cat following hypofractionated, palliative intent radiation therapy for large-cell...

A 5-year-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 4.5 × 3 cm ulcerated cutaneous mass on the nasal bridge with extension into the nasal cavity. Tissue biopsy was obtained and a diagnosis of large-cell lymphoma was confirmed on histopathology. The cat was started on prednisolone and injectable chemotherapy; however, only a partial response was observed. A CT scan revealed a highly infiltrative mass with extensive subcutaneous involvement, extending into the nasal cavity, resulting in lysis of numerous nasal and facial bones. The cat received hypofractionated, palliative intent radiation therapy (four fractions of 8 Gray) and a complete clinical response was achieved. Nine months after radiation therapy, minimal residual intranasal disease was observed on advanced imaging. Sixty-nine months after the completion of radiotherapy, a mass was observed dorsal to the right eye within the previous radiation field. CT scan revealed a mass associated with the right frontal sinus with extension throughout the nasal cavity and facial bones. Histopathology was consistent with a moderately differentiated sarcoma. Seventy-one months post-radiation therapy, the cat developed neurologic clinical signs and was humanely euthanized. Radiation-induced sarcoma was suspected based on human criteria, which included history of irradiation and tumor development within the irradiated field, a latent period after irradiation prior to the development of the second tumor and histopathologic confirmation of a different malignant neoplasm at the irradiated site.

To our knowledge, this is the first report of a malignant radiation-induced sarcoma in a cat. Based on this case, radiation-induced sarcomas should be considered as a late-term side effect associated with radiation therapy in cats.