Friday, June
6, 2008
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Room 1136, LYNN
Dr. Erin Arnold
“Plasma Cell Neoplasia in
the Feline Patient”
Multiple myeloma and extramedullary plasmacytomas have
been described as clinical syndromes of plasma cell neoplasia
with distinct pathology based on classifications of dogs and humans. Plasma cell neoplasia
is rare in the cat. Although case
numbers have been limited, there is already evidence that plasma cell neoplasia in the cat is different compared to this disease
in other species.
Feline plasma cell neoplasia has a diverse
clinical presentation, but is typically aggressive, and response to therapy is
difficult to predict. As data on plasma
cell neoplasia in cats has accumulated, it has become
apparent that clinical presentation and disease pathology of plasma cell neoplasia may differ from that typically seen with
dogs. Compared to canine plasma cell
tumors, the tumors in cats more commonly demonstrate cellular atypia. Histopathologic differentiation from other lymphoid neoplasia such as lymphoma can be difficult. Immunohistochemistry
is a useful tool to distinguish lymphocytic and plasma cell features. Further characterization of plasma cell neoplasia in the cat is needed to determine if separate
classification systems or different treatment approaches are warranted. The purpose of this presentation is to review
the current understanding of plasma cell neoplasia in
cats.