Colonic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour in a cat

Abstract

Case summary A 14-year-old male neutered domestic mediumhair cat presented with a 4 month history of inappetence and weight loss. Pertinent abnormalities on haematology and biochemistry included a mild microcytic regenerative anaemia (packed cell volume [PCV] 24% [reference interval (RI) 30–45%], mean cell volume 30.8 fl [RI 40–45 fl], absolute reticulocyte count 326.8 × 10 12 ) and increased alkaline phosphatase activity (76 IU/l; RI 300 s [RI 65–119 s]). Abdominal ultrasound identified multiple renal and hepatic nodules. Euthanasia was performed and post-mortem examination confirmed metastasis of the MPNST. Relevance and novel information This report describes the treatment of a metastatic colonic peripheral nerve sheath tumour in a cat. Feline visceral MPNSTs are rare and little is known about prognosis or optimal treatment.