Parshley DL, Larue SM, Kitchell B et al: Abdominal irradiation as a rescue therapy for feline gastrointestinal lymphoma: a retrospective study of 11 cats (2001-2008), J Feline Medicine Surg 13:63, 2011.
The first line of therapy for feline lymphoma has been primarily chemotherapy. Cats will respond well to chemotherapy protocols, with response rates ranging between 50 and 75% depending on protocol, tumor grade, and location of the lymphoma. Radiation therapy in feline lymphoma is mostly used in nasal, extranodal, or single node lymphoma. The authors conducted a retrospective study of the medical records of 11 cats with gastrointestinal lymphoma. All the cats had relapsed or resistant lymphoma. These patients were evaluated to determine the efficacy of radiation therapy when used in a rescue therapy setting. The population distribution between males and females was a ratio of 2.3:1. The most common clinical sign noted prior to diagnosis was weight loss. The cats received two fractions of radiation delivered over 2 days for a total of 800cGy. There was a response in 10 of 11 cats. The overall median survival duration was 355 days while the median survival duration after radiation therapy was 214 days. Cats that were anemic tended to have lower overall survival rates, even with radiation therapy. Acute effects of radiation were not noted, except one cat that had a limited duration of loss of appetite. The results indicated that at this dose of radiation, abdominal radiation therapy in the rescue setting for feline gastrointestinal lymphoma appears well tolerated. [VT]
Related articles:
Gieger T: Alimentary lymphoma in cats and dogs, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 41:419, 2011.
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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