• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

The Risk of Feline Injection-site Sarcoma

November 19, 2018
Amanda Carrozza

A recent article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reexamines what is know about FISS development and treatment.

According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the risk of a cat developing sarcoma following vaccination is less than 1 in 10,000 doses. However, when sarcoma does develop it is associated with high recurrence and mortality rates. In fact, due to the potential for development of aggressive cancer, the AAFP recommends that vaccinations be administered in the lower legs rather than in the interscapular region to facilitate complete tumor removal by limb amputation in the event that feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS) occurs.

An article in the December 2018 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) recaps several studies and reports detailing the likelihood of FISS development and the level of concern veterinarians should have about its prevalence.

Feline Inject-Site Sarcoma Research

The veterinary community was first made aware of FISS following a 1991 letter to the editor that appeared in JAVMA and alluded to a potential association between rabies vaccinations in cats and the development of FISS. Fast-forward 27 years and “there are currently no known management options to prevent or cure FISS,” said Apryl Steele, DVM, 2019 AAFP president. In the years since the initial letter was written, numerous studies have been conducted to examine the incidence, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of FISS.

Initial research suggested that the risk of FISS development was about 2 cases per 10,000 doses of vaccine. Over time that estimate increased to 13 to 36 cases per 10,000 doses, but more recent epidemiologic studies suggest that the risk is actually much lower, thus establishing the current belief that FISS occurs in fewer than 1 cat per 10,000 doses of vaccine administered.

Advertisement

Following publication of the AAFP’s 2013 Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel Report, a University of Florida pilot study found that administering vaccines in the distal part of the tail was well tolerated and elicited similar serologic responses to vaccination in the distal limbs. A 2017 study from Cornell University found that a feature of FISS is DNA damage, noting that response mechanisms to DNA damage can promote multidrug resistance, rendering adjunctive radiotherapy or chemotherapy mostly ineffective as treatment. Instead, aggressive surgery—often resulting in limb amputation—is the recommended course of treatment.

Current Vaccine Recommendations

As quoted in JAVMA, Karen Stasiak, MSN, DVM, veterinary medical lead for pet care biologicals at Zoetis, said 1 recommendation for FISS prevention is to inject cats only as necessary, whether with a vaccine, medication, or microchip. This recommendation is in accordance with current AAFP guidelines, which state: “The veterinarian should undertake a clinical risk/benefit assessment for each animal and discuss recommended vaccination schedules with the owner so that they can make an informed choice. The assessment should include discussion on the likelihood of exposure, the health and lifestyle of the animal, and the risks related to vaccination.”

While studies are ongoing to pinpoint a definitive cause of FISS and to find more effective, less invasive forms of treatment, much of the veterinary community remains in agreement that the risk of sarcoma development does not outweigh the need to vaccinate cats against key infectious diseases.


Advertisement

Latest News

The four-letter word to why you're burning out and feeling unproductive

Merck Manuals recognizes importance of One Health concept

Topical therapy and immunotherapy can save time and frustration with dermatology cases

Texas Tech appoints new faculty member with passion for animal agriculture

View More Latest News
Advertisement