odontogenic TUMORS IN CATS
Background
In one study fibromatous epulis was the third most common feline oral tumor, accounting for 29 of 371 oral tumors (7.8%). Epulides occur in middleage to older cats.
Fibroameloblastoma is a rare tumor that typically affects cats younger than 1 year of age.These tumors are different from the epulides in that they histologically resemble embryonic connective tissue of the dental pulp. These tumors are benign and grow by expansion rather than invasion. Complete surgical excision can be challenging with large tumors.Clinical Parameters
Cats with oral tumors, including odontogenic tumors, often have malodorous breath, dysphagia, anorexia, oral bleeding, ptyalism, and, in advanced cases, facial deformity.Weight loss may be a common concurrent problem.
Clinical Work-up
Cats with oral tumors should have a biopsy performed, as well as blood work, thoracic radiographs, evaluation of regional lymph nodes via aspiration or biopsy, and fine-detail intraoral radiographs of the affected area. Thoracic radiographs rarely show evidence of metastasis from feline odontogenic tumors because of their typically benign behavior but should be performed as part of a thorough staging scheme for oral tumors.
Therapeutic Approach
The treatment of choice for feline fibroameloblas- tomas is surgical excision. One must remove a “cuff” of normal bone around the tumor, which requires removal of part of the mandible or maxilla in most cases. Surgery can be curative if adequate surgical margins are obtained. Seven cats with fibroameloblastoma were treated with surgery in one report; one had recurrence of the tumor 42 months later. Four cats had complete tumor control 6, 7, 24, and 36 months after surgery. One cat had tumor recurrence and was tumor-free 5 years after a second surgery.The seventh cat was lost to follow-up.There is no known published literature on treatment for fibromatous epulis in cats, but a prognosis similar to that of dogs should be expected after surgery or radiation therapy.