ALIMENTARY LYMPHOMA IN CATS - 28 CASES (1988-1993)

Objective-To evaluate response to chemotherapy in cats with alimentary lymphoma and to determine factors associated with survival time. Desi gn-Retrospective case series. Animals-28 cats with alimentary lymphoma that underwent chemotherapy. Results-In all cats, the diagnosis had b een established by means of cytologic or histologic examination of ult rasound-guided aspirates and biopsy specimens (18 cats), histologic ex amination of surgically obtained biopsy specimens (7 cats), or examina tion of specimens obtained endoscopically (3 cats). Clinical signs inc luded anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. Twenty-seven cats were treated with vincristine sulfate, cyclophosphamide, and predniso ne; 1 was treated with chlorambucil and prednisone. Survival time rang ed from 2 to 2,120 days (median, 50 days). Nine cats achieved complete remission (remission time ranged from 30 to 1,700 days; median, 213 d ays), 2 achieved partial remission, and 17 failed to respond to chemot herapy. Sex, FeLV status, hematocrit, serum total protein concentratio n, site and extent of gastrointestinal involvement, and clinical stage were not found to be associated with survival time. Clinical Implicat ions-Cats with alimentary lymphoma are poorly responsive to treatment with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone; however, a small s ubset of cats may have long survival times.