Feline osteosarcoma: 145 cases (1990-1995)

Feline osteosarcoma (OSA) is a rare tumor in cats. Ninety (62%) of feline O SAs detailed in this study arose from the skeleton, and 55 (38%) arose from extraskeletal sites. Fifty OSAs originated in the appendicular skeleton, a nd 40 OSAs originated in the axial skeleton. Extraskeletal OSA sites included subcutaneous sites (n=44), with an apparen t prevalence for sites commonly used for vaccination. Other locations inclu ded ocular/orbital (n=4), oral (n=3), intestinal/omental (n=3), and mammary sites (n=1). Survival data was available for 74 cases. When considered as a group, cats with either appendicular (mean, 11.8 mos) or extraskeletal (mean, 12.67 mos ) OSA survived longer than those with axial (mean, 6.07 mos) OSA. Regardles s of the type of feline OSA, aggressive surgical excision with or without a ncillary therapy appeared to be the most effective form of treatment.