PRIMARY TUMORS OF THE SPLEEN IN CATS

In this study 61 feline cases of splenic tumors were evaluated retrosp ectively regarding tumor type, breed, age and sex of the animal. Two g eneral types of neoplasms could be identified: infiltrative (hematopoi etic) tumors, which led to a generalized enlargement of the organ, and solid tumors, which presented as a localized mass within the otherwis e normal spleen. Hematopoietic tumors were found in 47 cases (77 %) of which 25 (41 %) were of lymphatic, 18 (29 %) of mast cell and 4 (7 %) of myeloic origin. Solid tumors were diagnosed in 14 cats (23 %), and hemangiosarcoma was the most common tumor type (n = 9; 15 %). There w as no breed predisposition for any specific tumor types. The age of th e affected animals ranged from 1 to 15 years, with a mean of 9.4 years . All affected cats under 4 years of age had hematopoietic tumors. Sol id neoplasms and mast cell tumors (mean age 9.8 and 11 years, respecti vely) occurred primarily in adult or older animals. The ratio of male to female cats with lymphatic or myeloic tumors was 2:1. For other tum or types no sex predisposition was found.