An unusual tumor in a cat: synovial cell sarcoma

Abstract

A 10 year old female spayed Persian cat presented with a periarticular mass of the left elbow. The cat was neither lame nor painful. Radiographs of the elbow showed a soft tissue mass and evidence of osteoarthrosis. Radiographs were inconclusive for osteolytic affects of the periarticular mass. Local excision was attempted, but incomplete due to infiltration through multiple tissue planes. The cat returned 6 weeks later for amputation, and the mass showed evidence of local recurrence. Synovial cell sarcoma was diagnosed on histopathology. Because so few cases of synovial cell sarcoma have been reported in the cat, a litertaure review of the incidence, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of synovial cell sarcoma in the dog follows. Synovial cell sarcoma in the dog is malignant, aggressive, and potentially metastatic. Amputation remains the best treatment option. This information was extrapolated to the case reported in a cat, and amputation was performed.