Swelling around 108

RE: Swelling around 108

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 18:50:53 GMT

I've had a feline patient with a mandibular osteosarcoma do fairly well for a moderate amount of time on analgesia before. I believe they generally aren't quite as aggressive as those on limbs (while not being good news, of course)

RE: Swelling around 108

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 16:20:30 GMT

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/dentistry/f/discussions/29986/swelling-around-108/232911#232911"]The tooth was clearly the cause of discomfort at this stage.[/quote]

Oh, indisputably.

RE: Swelling around 108

Bob Russell — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 16:16:52 GMT

Almost word for word - thanks!!

It really does resemble the picture of an osteosarcoma in a limb. As he is comfortable at present I decided minimal mucking about. The tooth was clearly the cause of discomfort at this stage.

RE: Swelling around 108

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 16:03:33 GMT

Well, of course "the whole tooth came out when I hooked on to the calculus" is a fairly common phenomenon with upper 8s of the cat! As you know most usually due to periodontitis or to resorption. But another common cause for a tooth or teeth loosening is neoplasia deep to the tooth.

I think chronic infection would look completely different. I'm afraid that, though a radiograph is rarely completely diagnostic, that looks very like osteosarcoma to me. Get a bone biopsy done if you can but it may not alter the treatment plan.

Or simply tell the owners: "Look, this is almost certainly a malignant cancer. The exact type doesn't really matter because it's highly unlikely we can do anything about it" . Give analgesia until it's time for euthanasia – what time that is will be determined by many factors, including owners' circumstances and preferences.

RE: Swelling around 108

Bob Russell — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 15:10:01 GMT

Many thanks!

I have already warned the owner that this does not look good. As a family they are having a rough time and had pretty much accepted this would be bad news as that sums up their year.

I assume chronic infection would be more lytic. The owners have elected to wait and see as they are not wanting the cat to go through that much. It arrived on their doorstep many years ago so we might be looking at an older cat. Happy at the moment without the tooth rattling round in its 'socket'!

RE: Swelling around 108

Rob Davis — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 14:56:42 GMT

Any photos? It's probably bad news (as I'm sure you've already guessed!). Biopsy will be needed for diagnosis, punch from centre of lesion is usually the best option.

RE: Swelling around 108

Rachel Perry — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 14:52:20 GMT

Looks nasty- you'll need a biopsy