Diagnosis and clinical outcome of cats with primary appendicular bone tumors: 76 cases.
Kimura S, Lubelski J, Wood CJ, Selmic LE, Maritato KC, Morello E, Pellin MA, Oblak ML, Culp WTN, Malek S, Séguin B, Vernier T, Sumner JP, Wustefeld-Janssens BG, Schlag AN, Liptak JM · Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · 10 April 2026
Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves survival in nonmetastatic feline appendicular osteosarcoma.
This retrospective study of 76 cats with primary appendicular bone tumors treated surgically between 2008-2019 provides important prognostic data for feline orthopedic oncology. Osteosarcoma was the most common diagnosis with a median survival time (MST) of 469 days and 2-year survival of 40.4%. Chondrosarcoma demonstrated superior outcomes with MST of 1,302 days and 2-year survival of 66.7%. Overall metastatic rate was 32.9%, with scapular tumors showing the highest metastatic potential (87.5%). Preoperative pulmonary metastasis significantly reduced survival in osteosarcoma cases (152 vs 573 days). Critical finding: adjuvant chemotherapy substantially improved MST in nonmetastatic osteosarcoma cases (1,466 vs 440 days). Advanced age and suspected metastasis were negative prognostic indicators. The study demonstrates that while appendicular osteosarcoma in cats carries higher metastatic rates than previously reported, combined surgical amputation and adjuvant chemotherapy provides significantly improved outcomes. Appendicular chondrosarcoma shows excellent prognosis with surgery alone.
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