Prognosis for presumed feline vaccine-associated sarcoma after excision: 61 cases (1986-1996)

Objective-To evaluate time to first recurrence (TFR) and overall survival in cats with presumed vaccine-associated sarcomas (VAS) treated with excision. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-61 cats with presumed VAS. Procedure-Medical records of cats that received excision as the only initial treatment for presumed VAS were reviewed to evaluate prognosis. Overall survival curves and TFR were determined. Results-Median TFR was 94 days. Median TFR for tumors treated with excision performed at a referral institution (274 days) was significantly longer than that for tumors excised by a referring Veterinarian (66 days). Radical first excision yielded significantly longer median TFR (325 days) than did marginal first excision (79 days). Cats with tumors located on the limbs had longer median TFR (325 days) than cats with tumors located in other sites (66 days). Median overall survival time was 576 days. Significant differences in survival times between groups were not detected. Few cats (13.8%) receiving only surgical treatment had longterm (> 2 years) survival. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Radical first excision of presumed VAS is essential for extended TFR. Current recommendations for vaccination of the distal portions of the extremities are appropriate, because this practice permits radical excision of tumors (amputation) that develop at vaccination sites; however, surgery alone is seldom curative.