Multimodal therapy for treatment of feline mandibular squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Ciffy, a 14 year odl male castrated domestic short hair cat, presented to Cornell University Hospital for Animals on April 2, 2007 with a history of bony swelling confined to the left mandible and centered at the level of the lower left molar which was loose. The molar was removed by the referring veterinarian and histopathology revealed sqamous cell carcinoma. Cliffy was treated with a definitive course of pre-operative radiation therapy at Cornell from 4/4/07 to 4/27/07 consisting of 16 3 Gray fractions. This resulted in an approximately 20% decrease in the size of the tumor. A left hemimandibulectomy was performed on 5/23/07, and an esophagostomy tube was placed. Histopathology of the removed mandible showed only periosteal reaction and a fibrous callous suggestive of pathologic fracture. Cliffy recovered well, his e-tube was removed after two weeks, and he continued to maintain a good attitude and appetite with no evidence of tumor recurrence.