Cat Hepatobiliary Tumors

There is veterinary evidence that hepatic tumors have been seen in cats that are as young as two years of age. Hepatobiliary tumors, however, are usually found in older cats that have an average age of twelve years.

Hepatobiliary tumors can appear to be benign or malignant. The malignant tumors are the ones that usually present in cats around the age of nine years old; Whilst the benign tumors are seen in cats that are in their teenage years. For what it is worth, dogs have a much higher rate of malignancy than do cats. Over half of the hepatobiliary tumors found in cats are found during surgery or necropsy.

Signs Symptoms of Hepatobiliary Tumors in Cats

• Cat Loss of Appetite

• Cat Lethargy

• Cat Loss of Weight

• Cat Vomiting

• Cat Increased Urination

• Cat Increased Thirst

• Fluid in a cat’s abdominal cavity

Some cats may also appear to have jaundice present in their eyes. This is a yellowish tint to the normally white part of the cat’s eye.

Diagnosis of Hepatobiliary Tumors in Cats

Diagnostic procedures are many. Blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound, CT scans and MRI’s can all be used to determine the presence of tumors on a cat’s liver. Determining the type of tumor and whether or not it involves more than one lobe is the biggest concern amongst veterinarians. Single lobes can be removed, but the nodular type that affects multiple lobes cannot be removed as easily through surgery.

Fine needle biopsies may also be done under ultrasound to obtain specimens of the tumor as well as the contents for examination.

Blood tests are done because cats that have this particular type of tumor will usually have an elevated number of white blood cells; Cat Anemia may also be present, as well as an abnormally large amount of platelets.

Treatment Options for Hepatobiliary Tumors in Cats

Treatment for cats is surgery, if it is at all possible. The removal of the affected lobe of the liver has little complications associated with it. Recurrence of the tumor has not been found to be seen in most of the studies that have been performed.

The outcome of surgery is positive after the lobectomy is done. Incidences of nodular tumors indicate a poor prognosis, as it involves multiple liver nodes and surgery cannot be performed.

Chemotherapy has not been particularly successful in treatment. Hormonal therapy, on the other hand, is being studied and is showing some promise. This with include the addition of tamoxifen and a form of targeted therapy.

A cat that is undergoing such treatment for hepatobiliary tumors should have a nutritious diet that consists of adequate amounts of antioxidants and Cat Omega Fatty Acids as well.