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Updated: Aug 20, 2025
08:48
Identification of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Paraffin-Embedded Feline Arterial Thrombi using Immunofluorescence Microscopy
Published on: March 29, 2020
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Cardiac Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumours in Three Young Adult Cats
Noboru Machida1, Atsushi Hirakawa2, Nobuyuki Kanno3
1Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Oncology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan.
Journal of Comparative Pathology
|November 24, 2022
Summary
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMTs) are rare cardiac neoplasms in cats. This study describes three cases of feline cardiac IMTs, characterized by specific histological and immunohistochemical findings, leading to fatal heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Oncology
Background:
- Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMTs) are neoplasms of uncertain malignant potential.
- Cardiac IMTs are exceedingly rare in animals, with no prior reports in cats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinicopathological features of cardiac IMTs in three young adult cats.
- To characterize the histological and immunohistochemical profile of these feline cardiac tumours.
Main Methods:
- Necropsy and histopathological examination of cardiac masses from three cats.
- Immunohistochemical analysis for vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin.
Main Results:
- Three young adult cats presented with congestive heart failure due to cardiac masses.
- Histologically, masses showed spindloid mesenchymal cell proliferation with inflammatory infiltrate.
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed myofibroblastic origin (vimentin+, α-smooth muscle actin+).
Conclusions:
- The findings are consistent with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMTs) of the heart.
- This is the first report of cardiac IMTs in cats, highlighting their potential to cause fatal heart failure.
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