Favorable short- and long-term outcomes reported for cats following surgical management of biliary cystadenomas.

Surgery for feline biliary cystadenomas offers favorable outcomes with low perioperative mortality and acceptable long-term survival.

This retrospective case series analyzed 21 cats that underwent surgical management of biliary cystadenomas between 2008 and 2023. The cohort was predominantly domestic shorthairs (71%) with a median age of 13 years, consisting of 13 neutered males and 8 spayed females. Clinical presentation was typically nonspecific, including vomiting, weight loss, hyporexia, and lethargy, though some cats were subclinical with incidental liver masses. Surgical intervention was based on various factors including concurrent comorbidities, mass characteristics, and clinical attribution. The perioperative mortality rate was low at 10% (2/21), with major surgical complications being uncommon. Histopathologic evaluation revealed three cases with concerning features for malignant transformation. Among 18 cats with follow-up data, recurrence occurred in 22% (4/18). Notably, biliary cystadenoma was not the life-limiting factor for perioperative survivors. Median survival was 570 days, with 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of 67%, 43%, and 15% respectively. The study demonstrates that surgical management provides favorable short-term outcomes and acceptable long-term prognosis, warranting consideration for suspected cases to achieve definitive diagnosis and address associated morbidity.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.