Linfoma alimentar com ulceração e obliteração de lúmen gástrico em um felino

Abstract

Lymphoma is the most common hematopoietic neoplasm in elderly cats, characterized by the infiltration of neoplastic cells into tissues. Its etiology is complex and multifactorial, involving factors such as infection by feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), environmental exposure to tobacco smoke, Helicobacter pylori, and inflammatory bowel disease. In the alimentary form, clinical signs are generally nonspecific and include diarrhea, recurrent vomiting, anorexia, and progressive weight loss. However, more specific manifestations can occur in the presence of focal, multifocal, or diffuse masses in the gastrointestinal tract. Definitive diagnosis is obtained through histopathological examination of tissues biopsied during exploratory laparotomy. This report describes a clinical case of alimentary lymphoma with ulceration and lumen obstruction in a mixed-breed female cat, weighing 3.1 kg, spayed, six years old, with black fur, attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Paraíba with complaints of inappetence, recurrent emesis, and progressive weight loss. Complementary exams, including complete blood count, rapid serological testing for FIV and FeLV, abdominal ultrasound, and post-mortem histopathological examination, were performed. Hematological findings included non-regenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia, with serological tests positive for both viruses. The ultrasound examination revealed a large intraluminal gastric mass, possibly continuous with or adhered to the organ wall, mesenteric lymphadenomegaly, mild abdominal effusion, and peritonitis. The histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of low-grade gastric lymphoma associated with a perforated ulcer. This report highlights the importance of ultrasound and histopathological examinations in cases of suspected alimentary lymphoma in cats, providing a potential differential diagnosis in situations involving digestive alterations in this species.