Oral lesions are common in cats. Many are associated with the teeth and supporting structures (e.g., tooth resorption, gingivitis, stomatitis, etc.) but other types of lesions occur not associated with dental disease. These lesions may appear as ulcerative or proliferative tumor-like abnormalities. In this retrospective study, the investigators examined biopsy findings from 228 cats with oral disease. Most lesions were not cancerous, but were inflammatory in nature (61%). Of the inflammatory lesions, the majority were classified as chronic lymphoplasmacytic stomatitis. Tumors were found in 25% of the cases, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most common type. Thus, the majority of oral lesions are not cancerous; when cancerous, they may be ulcerative in nature rather than proliferative. Only a biopsy with microscopic examination of tissues (histopathology) can definitively diagnose oral lesions in cats. [MK]
See also: Buelow ME, Marretta SM, Barger A and Lichtensteiger C. Lingual lesions in the dog and cat: recognition, diagnosis, and treatment. J Vet Dent. 2011; 28: 151-62.
Related blog articles:
Improving treatment for feline oral cancer (Sept 2012)
Oral cancer in cats (August 2010)
More on cat health:
Winn Feline Foundation Library
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