2025, Cilt 41, e0465
Surgical Management of Interscapular Feline Injection-Site Sarcomas (FISS): A Case Series of 43 Cats
Nahit Saylak1, Berna Ersoz-Kanay1, Emine Catalkaya1, Baris Onun2, Behzat Tebrizi3, Elif Ekinci3, Sadik Yayla1
1Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgery, 21280, Diyarbakır, Türkiye
2Bingöl University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgery, 12000, Bingöl, Türkiye
3Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, 21280, Diyarbakır, Türkiye
Keywords: Cat, chronic pain, flap reconstruction, injection site sarcoma, local recurrence
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Evaluate surgical treatment efficacy for feline injection-site sarcomas (FISS) in the interscapular region by assessing complications, local recurrence, and long-term clinical and questionnaire findings. Forty-three cats with interscapular swelling and confirmed FISS were included. Surgery indication followed the 3-2-1 rule (mass ?3 months, size ?2 cm, growth within 1 month). Wide excision was performed under general anesthesia with ~5 cm lateral margins and ?2 fascial planes depth. Flap reconstruction was done if primary closure was impossible. Postoperative followup assessed complications, disease-free interval (DFI), overall survival (OS), and pain-related behavior via caregiver questionnaires at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Thoracic radiographs evaluated metastasis. Kaplan?Meier and log-rank tests analyzed data. The most frequent complication was incision dehiscence in 28/43 cats (65,1%); secondary infection in 3/43 (7,0%). Complications did not significantly affect OS or DFI (p>0.05). Local recurrence occurred in 18/43 cats (41,9%). Median OS exceeded 10 months in cats undergoing revision surgery, versus ~6 months in those refusing further surgery (p = 0.03). Suspicious thoracic lesions appeared in 2 cats; metastasis was not confirmed. Caregiver questionnaires showed significant improvement at 3 months (p < 0.01), with scores rising between 6 and 12 months in cats with recurrence (p < 0.001). FISS is surgically challenging due to high local invasiveness and recurrence despite low metastatic potential. Wide margins and flap reconstruction reduce tension and complications, improving outcomes. Vaccines and injections in extremities or tail, with regular monitoring, may aid early diagnosis and treatment success.