Feline hepatic biliary carcinoma

From Felipedia

Bile duct adenocarcinoma - well differentiated

Although hepatic tumours have been documented in cats as young as 2 years old, hepatobiliary tumors are primarily a disease of older cats (average 12 years)^[1].

Hepatobiliary tumors may be classified as either malignant or benign, with malignant tumors more commonly arising in younger cats (average 9 years) compared with benign tumors (average 14.5 years). In contrast to dogs in which most hepatobiliary tumors are malignant, up to 65% of primary hepatobiliary tumors in cats are benign. More than 50% of feline hepatobiliary tumors are incidental findings at surgery or necropsy^[2].

Definitive treatment recommendations for cats with biliary adenocarcinoma or cystadenocarcinomas remain to be determined, but consider surgical resection if anatomically feasible. In some cases, adenocarcinomas may affect the biliary and common duodenal ampulla and thus negate surgical intervention^[3].

In two case series, surgical excision resulted in minimal complications, and no local recurrence was observed in the 12 to 44 months of postsurgical follow-up. Based on these limited studies, surgical excision may provide prolonged disease-free intervals and high quality-of-life scores in cats with biliary adenocarcinomas and carcinomas of the biliary tract^[4].

Cholangiocellular carcinoma appears as a multiple tumor, with no predilection for a certain lobe. The tumor appears as umbilicated nodules of high consistency, making the liver surface irregular. Tumors are not delimited by a fibrous capsule, margins are poorly delimited, with a rosette-like appearance, having a round or oval shape. In the multinodular form, tumors ranging from 0.5 to 4 cm in diameter are scattered throughout all the liver lobes. The cut surface of the tumors varies from white to gray-white to yellow-brown. Areas of necrosis, characterized by softening of the tissue and reddish discoloration can be found in the central regions of nodular tumors as well as in focal areas of large single neoplasms.

'Biliary cystadenocarcinoma, a malignant biliary epithelial neoplasm characterized by multiple cystic spaces of variable size. The histological characteristics of this variant include the formation of cysts of variable volume lined with single to multiple layers of neoplastic biliary epithelium. Cysts frequently contain abundant mucinous secretion. Papillary projections extend into the lumen of the cysts^[5].

Hepatocholangiocarcinoma, a malignant tumor with the histological and cytological characteristics of both hepatocellular and bile duct carcinoma; these are rare tumors. Cholangiocarcinomas metastasize more frequently in the spleen, kidneys, lymph nodes, sometimes in the thyroid, adrenal glands, bone marrow, intestinal wall, etc. Metastasis routes are transperitoneal, lymphatic and hematogenous.

References

1. ↑ August, JR (2006) Consultations in feline internal medicine. Vol 5. Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia
2. ↑ Kelly WR. (1993) Hyperplastic and Neoplastic Lesions of Liver and Bile Ducts. In: Jubb, Kennedy, Palmer., editors. Pathology of Domestic Animals. ed.4. Vol. 2. Academic Press; New–York. pp:402–406
3. ↑ Haines VL, Brown PR, Hruban RH, Huso DL. (1996) Adenocarcinoma of the hepatopancreatic ampulla in a domestic cat. Vet Pathol 33(4):439-41
4. ↑ Veterinary Medicine (DVM360)
5. ↑ Head KW, et al (2003) Histological Classification of Tumors of the Alimentary System of Domestic Animals. Second Series. X. WHO, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology; Washington, D.C.