stomach tumors in cats

Stomach tumors are rare in cats. Most that do occur are lymphoma (Figure 11-8). Adenocarcinomas and leiomyosarcomas are rare. Gastric thickening is common in cats with gastric lymphoma and is often substantial enough to be detected on palpation. Ultrasound-guided biopsy or fine-needle aspiration facilitates diagnosis. Endoscopic biopsy is useful in superficial lesions but is not as helpful for submu­cosal lymphoma. Most are detectable via endoscopy (given proper endoscopic biopsy instrumenta­tion and good technique). Lymphoma is rarely con­fined to the stomach and is best treated with chemotherapy. Responses of cats with GI lym­phoma to chemotherapy are surprisingly good despite previous reports, especially if they are small cell lymphomas.