Feline Injection-Site Sarcoma – A Literature Review

Abstract

Feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS) is a highly aggressive and malignant tumour of mesenchymal origin that develops in 1 in 10,000 injected cats. The majority of FISS are fibrosarcomas. To date the pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown. However, the most likely hypothesis is tied in with local inflammatory response occurring at the injection site causing a neoplastic transformation to sarcomas. Initially FISS was linked to feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and rabies vaccination. However other injectables such as antibiotics, corticosteroids and NSAIDs, and also suture materials and microchips have been associated with this condition. Selection of treatment for FISS is based on the clinical staging of the disease, and thus advanced imaging with the use of CT or MRI are recommended as additional diagnostic tools in the phase of treatment planning in order to correctly evaluate the actual size of the tumour, and to check for presence of metastasis.