Vascular transformation of a serosal lymph node in a cat

Authors: Wyatt SR, King JB
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 53, Issue 1, pp 11-15, Mar 2023
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Animal type: Cat
Subject Terms: Clinical examination, Lymphatic system
Article class: Clinical Report

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Abstract:

Background: Vascular transformation of lymph nodes, or plexiform vasculopathy, is an uncommon condition, which has been reported in inguinal and cervical lymph nodes in cats, but not before in a serosal location.

Case report: An eight-year-old male neutered Domestic Shorthair Cat presented with vomiting, hyporexia, and abdominal pain of 24-hour duration. A mass lesion at the ileocolic junction was identified on abdominal ultrasound. A vascular mass arising from the serosal surface of the caecum was present on exploratory laparotomy. Histopathology was consistent with plexiform vasculopathy. There was concern over malignant transformation of the lesion based on histopathology, however at 98 days following surgery there was no evidence of recurrence on abdominal imaging.

Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge this is the first described case of plexiform vasculopathy in a serosal lymph node. This should be considered as a differential for vascular gastrointestinal mass lesions in cats.

Keywords: cat; plexiform vasculopathy; lymph node

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