Mediastinal Lymphoma in Cats

Mediastinal lymphoma is a form of lymphoma that commonly occurs in cats. This form of lymphoma accounts for approximately one third of all cancers diagnosed in cats. Lymphoma is also known as lymphosarcoma and may develop from lymphoid tissue which is found in many areas in the body such as the liver, skin and kidneys.

  1. Identification

    • Mediastinal lymphoma is also known as thymic lymphoma. This is because it develops in the thymus which is located in the chest cavity of the cat. The thymus is found between the anterior mediastinal lymph nodes and the lungs. Mediastinal lymphoma is malignant (cancerous) and may require treatment if the cat is to survive.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms associated with mediastinal lymphoma in cats may include excessive coughing and difficulty breathing which is known as dyspnoea. Cats may also suffer from the more general symptoms of cancer which may include lethargy, fever, depression and anorexia.

    Causes

    • Mediastinal lymphoma is most common in cats that test positive for the feline leukemia virus or FeLV. According to CatWorld.com, cats that have FeLV are 60 times more likely to develop lymphoma. Mediastinal lymphoma is most commonly seen in young cats (2 to 3 years of age) that are FeLV positive. Another cause of lymphoma in cats is living in a household where people smoke. Cats that are exposed to smoke on a daily basis are twice as likely to develop lymphoma as cats that are not exposed to smoke. This condition is not breed specific and males and females are affected equally.

    Diagnosis

    • In order to diagnose your cat with mediastinal lymphoma, your veterinarian may perform an examination and take a detailed medical history of your cat. Diagnostic tests such as a CBC (complete blood count) may be done as well as a biochemical profile and urinalysis. A test may be done to determine if your cat is positive for the FeLV virus. X-rays and an abdominal ultrasound may also be performed on your cat, as well as a biopsy or fine needle aspirate to confirm the diagnosis of lymphoma.

    Treatment

    • The treatment for mediastinal lymphoma may involve surgery to remove the tumor. This is only done in the cases where to tumor is in an accessible area. Chemotherapy is the most commonly treatment for this condition. Cats usually tolerate chemotherapy well, although, it may cause side effects such as anorexia and fatigue.

    Prognosis

    • The prognosis for cats with mediastinal lymphoma is largely dependent on the location of the tumor and the severity of the illness. Other factors may include if the cat is FeLV positive, or the response the cat has to chemotherapy or other treatments.