Page 1076 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

1068 PART 13 CAT WITH SKIN PROBLEMS

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NEOPLASTIC
● Squamous cell carcinoma** (p 1069)
Usually occurs in older cats and appears as a crusty or ulcerated lesion in poorly pigmented and
sparsely haired regions of skin.
● Basal cell tumor* (p 1070)
Solitary cutaneous lesion in an older cat usually on the dorsum.
● Fibrosarcoma* (p 1071)
Soft, subcutaneous mass with poorly defined margins; 50% occur on the limbs and 25% on the
head and neck.
● Fibroma (p 1077)
Small, solitary, non-invasive mass in the skin or subcutaneous tissue.
● Mast cell tumor* (p 1074)
Solitary or multiple cutaneous masses especially on the head and neck of oriental breeds. Usually
firm, raised, well-circumscribed, hairless dermal nodules between 0.5–3 cm in diameter.
Intermittently pruritic and occasionally ulcerated (especially histiocytic form). If disseminated,
there may be signs of systemic illness including weight loss, anemia, vomiting and anorexia.
● Sweat gland neoplasia (p 1077)
Subcutaneous masses often around the base of the ear and ear canal.
● Hemangioma and hemangiosarcoma* (p 1075)
Appear as dark-red, cutaneous nodule or nodules. In the subcutaneous and muscular tissue appear
as a soft mass, and there may be a zone of echymosis surrounding the mass. May also appear as an
ulcerated lesion on the nose.
● Cutaneous lymphosarcoma (p 1078)
Very rare tumors in cats. Appear as solitary or multiple skin or subcutaneous masses varying from
a few millimeters to over a centimeter in diameter. Can be moist and erythematous or dry and flaky.
Mucocutaneous junctions may be involved with areas of superficial ulceration. Lesions may consist
of plaques, papules, nodules and areas of erythema, focal alopecia with crusting and ulceration.
● Melanoma (p 1079)
The majority appears as dark-pigmented nodules in the skin of the head, and very rarely on the
extremities. Ocular melanomas may occur and very rarely melanoma involves the oral cavity.
● Mammary gland tumors* (p 1076)
Nodule or nodules in the mammary chain, on average 3 cm in diameter. Often multiple, and
may involve both mammary chains. May be ulcerated.
INFECTION
● Catfight abscess*** (p 1079)
Painful subcutaneous mass, usually febrile.
● Fungal (p 1080)
Variably ulcerated, cutaneous or subcutaneous mass. (e.g. Cryptococcus sp.)
TRAUMA
● Hematoma (p 1080)
Subcutaneous mass, acute onset, painful.