Epulides

From Felipedia

An epulis beneath the tongue of a cat

Fig. 1. Fibromatous and ossifying epulis; cat No. 3. A moderate amount of fibrillar collagen surrounds neoplastic cells that are spindle-shaped and have a small amount of eosinophilic, often vacuolated cytoplasm. The nuclei are irregularly oval with finely stippled chromatin and one small nucleolus. HE. Bar = 17 µm. Fig. 2. Fibromatous and ossifying epulis; cat No. 5. Proliferative periodontal ligament stroma with foci of dental hard substance. HE. Bar = 170 µm.

Epulides are an oral tumour of periodontal ligament origin. They occur commonly in dogs but infrequently in cats.

They account for about 8% of tumours in feline oral neoplasms. There is no age or sex predilection for these tumours and are found in cats from 1 to 15 years of age. There appears to be no association with this tumour and feline leukemia virus infection^[1].

Pathology

Histologically, they are characterized by a dense, well-vascularized stroma populated by stellate cells with abundant fibrillar collagen and resemble the periodontal ligament[1]. Microscopically, these epulides are nonencapsulated, poorly demarcated, infiltrative, well-vascularized, highly cellular neoplasms. They expand the gingiva and are composed of haphazardly arranged, spindle-shaped, occasionally stellate cells surrounded by a moderate amount of fibrillar collagen. Neoplastic cells have indistinct borders and a small amount of eosinophilic, often microvacuolated, cytoplasm. Nuclei are irregularly oval, occasionally angular, with finely stippled chromatin and one small, variably distinct nucleolus. Anisokaryosis is not evident and mitotic figures are rare^[2]. All tumours exhibited marked epithelial hyperplasia of the overlying gingiva, often with prominent down-growth of anastomosing epithelial cords. There is multifocal erosion and ulceration with an associated neutrophilic inflammatory infiltrate. Low to moderate numbers of perivascular lymphocytes and plasma cells admixed with fewer macrophages are scattered throughout the neoplasms^[3][4].

The hallmark of fibromatous and ossifying epulis is a well-vascularized collagenous stroma populated by stellate cells. The ossifying epulis contains osteoid or cementin-like or dentin-like material often referred to as dental hard substance. The histologic features of canine epulis and multiple feline epulides are similar;unlike its canine counterpart, this neoplasm is rare^[5].

Treatment

Glucocorticoid therapy does not appear to be beneficial in treating this form of neoplasia. Unlike canine cases, feline epulides appear to recur frequently after surgical excision; consequently, wide surgical excision is indicated^[6].

References

1. ↑ Andrew AD, Carpenter JL, Holzworth J: Tumors and tumor-like lesions. In: Diseases of the Cat, Medicine and Surgery, ed. Holzworth J, vol. 1, pp 487-488, WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA 1987
2. ↑ Patnaik AK, Liu SK, Hurvitz AI, McClelland AJ: Nonhematopoietic neoplasms in cats. J Natl Cancer Inst 54:855-860, 1975
3. ↑ Brodey RS: Alimentary tract neoplasms in the cat: a clinicopathologic survey of 46 cases. Am J Vet Res 27:74-80, 1966
4. ↑ L. M. A. Colgin, F. Y. Schulman and R. R. Dubielzig Multiple Epulides in 13 Cats Vet Pathol 38:227-229 (2001) http://www.vetpathology.org/cgi/content/full/38/2/227
5. ↑ Stebbins KE, Morse CC, Goldschmidt MH: Feline oral neoplasia: a ten-year survey. Vet Pathol 26:121-128, 1989
6. ↑ Bjorling DE, Chambers JN, Mahaffey EA: Surgical treatment of epulides in dogs: 25 cases (1974–1984). J Am Vet Med Assoc 190:1315-1318, 1987