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. 2023 Jan;25(1):1098612X221138468.
doi: 10.1177/1098612X221138468.

Lymph node metastasis in feline cutaneous low-grade mast cell tumours

Raphael Arz  1 , Lavinia E Chiti  1 , Christiane Krudewig  2 , Valeria Grieco  3 , Valeria Meier  4 , Csilla Fejös  4 , Damiano Stefanello  3 , Mirja C Nolff  1
Affiliations

Lymph node metastasis in feline cutaneous low-grade mast cell tumours

Raphael Arz et al. J Feline Med Surg. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to determine the incidence of nodal metastatic disease in cats affected by low-grade cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs) in our study population.

Methods: The clinical records of two centres were retrospectively searched for cats with cutaneous MCTs that had undergone lymphadenectomy of enlarged and non-enlarged lymph nodes. All primary tumours were histologically reviewed by two experienced pathologists and graded as high- or low-grade based on the grading system for feline cutaneous MCT. We graded the lymph nodes based on the grading scheme used for canine MCTs and considered HN2 and HN3 nodes to be metastatic. The number of patients with nodal metastasis was calculated.

Results: We identified 17 cats with cutaneous MCT resection and concurrent lymphadenectomy. All 21 MCTs were graded as low grade and 30 nodes were removed, with 12 being considered early or overtly metastatic (HN2 or HN3, respectively). Based on nodal status, 10/17 (59%) cats were affected by nodal metastasis in our population.

Conclusions and relevance: In contrast to previous reports, high percentage of cats with cutaneous MCTs in which lymphadenectomy was performed were presented with metastatic lymph nodes. The clinical relevance of this finding and a potential benefit of lymphadenectomy must be determined in future studies.

Keywords: Feline cutaneous mastocytosis; nodal grading; nodal metastasis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Representative pictures of HN0–HN3 in haematoxylin and eosin (left)- and Giemsa (right)-stained sections of examined lymph nodes in this study. The magnification is indicated on each picture. (a) HN0: no (or <3 individualised) mast cells are present. (b) HN1: mast cells (>3 individualised cells) are present and barely visible on haematoxylin and eosin staining. Metachromatic granules show up in the Giemsa staining (arrows). (c) HN2: mast cells are present in the subcapsular sinus (encircled area) in groups (arrows). There is no disruption of the nodal architecture. (d) HN3: nodule of neoplastic mast cells replacing the normal lymph node architecture (circle encloses mast cells with metachromatic granules). F = follicle; S = sinus
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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