Skeletal metastasis in feline mammary carcinoma: case report and literature review

Despite the highly malignant nature of feline mammary carcinoma, few cases of skeletal metastasis have been reported. In this paper, a case of feline mammary carcinoma with skeletal metastasis to a distal limb is presented. The pertinent literature on feline mammary carcinoma and bone metastases is reviewed. Although the metastases of carcinomas in dogs and humans usually exhibit a proximal skeletal distribution, cats are more likely to develop distal extremity lesions. Clinicians need to have an index of suspicion that skeletal metastases may be responsible for lameness in elderly cats. Further investigation of the comparative aspects of bone metastases in cats and other species may elucidate the factors that regulate the development of skeletal metastases.