Incidental Finding of Mediastinal T-Cell Lymphoma at Necropsy in a Cat
Abstract
Mediastinal lymphoma is a malignant neoplasm of the lymphatic system that primarily affects young cats, with frequent association to feline leukemia virus infection. It is characterized by the proliferation of atypical lymphocytes in the mediastinal region, causing pulmonary compression and severe respiratory signs. Definitive diagnosis requires a multimodal approach, including cytology, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, to differentiate it from other thoracic masses. This case report describes an incidental finding of T-cell mediastinal lymphoma in a one-year-old cat, identified during necropsy. Cytology revealed small to intermediate lymphocytes with dense chromatin, absence of visible nucleoli, and scant cytoplasm; histopathological analysis showed an infiltrative neoplastic proliferation in the mediastinum and pulmonary involvement with a mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the T-cell lineage through positive staining for CD3 and negative staining for CD20. The prognosis in such cases is guarded, particularly in the presence of feline leukemia virus coinfection, highlighting the importance of preventive strategies such as vaccination. This report underscores the value of immunophenotyping for the differential diagnosis of feline lymphomas and emphasizes the relevance of immunohistochemistry as a key tool for distinguishing between T-cell and B-cell lymphomas, even when detected incidentally.
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