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Esophagus: neoplasia
Synonym(s): oesophagus
Introduction
- Very rare. Less than 0.5% of all alimentary neoplasms.
- Cause: benign papillomas not documented in the cat. Primary tumours include squamous cell carcinoma, less commonly adenocarcinoma, or adenosquamous carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma. Occasionally lymphoma, or metastasis/local invasion from thyroid carcinoma or tracheobronchial carcinoma.
- Signs: regurgitation.
- Diagnosis: radiography, endoscopy, biopsy.
- Treatment: surgical resection (rarely).
Presenting signs
- Regurgitation.
- Depression.
- Dysphagia .
- Weight loss Weight loss.
- Bruxism.
- Vomiting Vomiting.
- Anorexia.
- Hypersalivation.
- Haematemesis.
- Aspiration pneumonia.
- Rarely, marked increase in appetite.
Geographic incidence
- UK (more common than USA).
- USA.
- France.
- Italy.
Age predisposition
- Mean 10-12 years (but range 6-20 years)
Special risks
- May hypothetically arise from carcinogens ingested during grooming, or from delayed ingesta transit in esophagus.
- Possibly secondary to esophageal metaplasia from gastric reflux, especially in adenocarcinomas or adenosquamous tumors.
Pathogenesis
Predisposing factors
General
- Regurgitation.
Pathophysiology
- Metastatic neoplasia:
- Thyroid.
- Pulmonary.
- Primary neoplasia:
- Squamous cell carcinoma - most common esophageal tumor in the cat. Some studies report more males than females affected, and castrated males over-represented.
- Squamous cell carcinoma may metastasize to tracheobronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes, also caudal cervical nodes, lungs, kidneys and spleen.
- Leiomyosarcoma possible also, but not well-documented.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Gualtieri M (2001) Esophagoscopy. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 31 (4), 605-630 PubMed.
- Shinozuka J, Nakayama H, Suzuki M et al (2001) Esophageal adenosquamous carcinoma in a cat. J Vet Med Sci 63 (1), 91-93 PubMed.
- Gualteri M, Monzeglio M G, Di Giancamillo M (1999) Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in two cats. J Small Anim Pract 40 (2), 79-83 PubMed.
- Patnaik A K, Erlandson R A, Lieberman P H (1990) Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma in a cat. Vet Pathol 27 (2), 128-130 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Head K W, Else R W & Dubielzig R R (2002) "Tumors of the alimentary tract" In: Meuten DJ (Ed.) Tumors in Domestic Animals. 4th Edn. Iowa State Press.