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. 2022 Mar;36(2):733-742.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.16388. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Outcome of stereotactic body radiation for treatment of nasal and nasopharyngeal lymphoma in 32 cats

Alicja I Reczynska  1 , Susan M LaRue  1 , Mary-Keara Boss  1 , Ber-In Lee  1 , Del Leary  1 , Kelsey Pohlmann  2 , Lynn Griffin  1 , Susan Lana  3 , Tiffany Wormhoudt Martin  1
Affiliations

Outcome of stereotactic body radiation for treatment of nasal and nasopharyngeal lymphoma in 32 cats

Alicja I Reczynska et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Background: The safety and efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the treatment of localized nasal lymphoma in cats has not been described.

Hypothesis: Stereotactic body radiation therapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for localized nasal lymphoma in cats.

Animals: Thirty-two client owned cats referred to Colorado State University for the treatment of nasal lymphoma.

Methods: Retrospective study of cats treated with SBRT between 2010 and 2020 at Colorado State University. Diagnosis of nasal lymphoma was obtained via cytology or histopathology. Signalment, radiation protocol, concurrent treatments, adverse effects, and survival were recorded.

Results: Progression free survival was 225 days (95% CI 98-514) and median survival time (MST) was 365 days (95% CI 123-531). No significant difference in survival was identified between cats that received 1 versus greater than 1 fraction (MST 427 vs. 123 days, P = 0.88). Negative prognostic factors included cribriform lysis (MST 121 vs. 876 days, P = 0.0009) and intracalvarial involvement (MST 100 vs. 438 days, P = 0.0007). Disease progression was noted in 38% (12/32), locally in 22% (7/32), and systemically in 16% (5/32). No cats developed acute adverse effects. Ten cats developed late adverse effects: keratitis/keratitis sicca (n = 2), alopecia (n = 4), and leukotrichia (n = 4). Twenty-four cats (75%) had signs consistent with chronic rhinitis.

Conclusions: SBRT is effective and well tolerated for treating localized nasal lymphoma in cats. Outcomes for cats with lower stage disease (canine modified Adam's stage 3 and lower) are comparable to historic data of cats treated with fractionated radiation therapy.

Keywords: SBRT; cat; hypofractionated radiation therapy; lymphosarcoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Kaplan‐Meier curves of progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival time. (A) PFS for all cats was 225 days (95% CI 98–514 days). (B) Median survival time of all cats was 365 days (95% CI 123–531 days)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Kaplan‐Meier curves of overall survival time for cats with and without calvarial extension of disease (A; MST 100 vs. 438 days, P = 0.0007) and with and without cribriform lysis (B; MST 121 vs. 876 days, P = 0.0009)
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Image on left (A) is of a pre‐contrast computed tomography (CT) scan of a cat before the first fraction of stereotactic body radiation therapy. The gross tumor volume (GTV) is contoured in red. The image on the right (B) represents the same corresponding location for the cat on fraction 3 of 5, obtained via cone‐beam CT (CBCT). GTV contours from original plan are represented on image B
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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