Multicentric lymphoma in domestic feline: Case report

Abstract

Lymphomas are neoplasms characterized by the clonal proliferation of malignant lymphocytes, originating mainly from lymphoid organs, such as bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes. According to human terminology, lymphomas that occur in domestic animals are known as non-Hodgkin, whose biological behavior, epidemiology, cell morphology and phenotyping are quite similar between humans and small animals. Lymphoma is the most common feline neoplasia, comprising more than 50% of all hemolymphatic tumors. The precise etiology of feline lymphoma is not known in many cases; however, viral causes are well defined, with infections by both feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). When lymphoma is caused by FeLV, it is usually associated with progressive infection, but regressive infections can also be involved in tumor formation, whose virus is not detected by the ELISA test, but in PCR (peripheral blood or bone marrow) is found FeLV provirus DNA, this suggests that the virus may be associated with a higher proportion of lymphomas than expected. Such neoplasms can present in different anatomical locations being classified into multicentric, mediastinal (or thymic), alimentary and extranodal (cutaneous, nasal, renal and nervous system lymphoma). In cats, mediastinal and alimentary forms are more common than multicentric and extranodal forms. The present work aims to present the case report of a domestic feline, male, SRD, 1 year old and FIV / FeLV negative in the ELISA, showing an increase in peripheral lymph nodes (submandibular, inguinal and popliteal) and an increase in liver lymph nodes, pancreatoduodenal, medial, colic and mesenteric iliac. Submandibular lymph node cytology was performed where immunoblastic lymphoma was diagnosed. The patient was submitted to the CHOP chemotherapy protocol (Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine and Prednisolone) for 24 weeks, being discharged after this period.