Papadopoulou E. DVM, Postgraduate student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Kakosimos L. DVM, Postgraduate student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Stylianaki I. DVM, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Zogka S. DVM, Postgraduate student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Chaitidis E. Postgraduate student, Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Thomas A.L. DVM, PhD Associate Professor, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Komnenou A. DVM, PhD Professor, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Introduction
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the conjunctiva is a rare neoplasm that has been reported in in cats, showing similar histopathological features to a similar conjunctival tumor in humans. A rare case of a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the conjunctiva of the nictitating membrane in a cat, is presented.
Clinical cases
A 4-year-old spayed, female domestic shorthair cat, was admitted with a mass on the nictitating membrane of the right eye. According to the patient’s history, twelve months ago, a small mass was surgically excised from the outer conjunctival surface of the nictitating membrane of the right eye, but relapsed soon after. The detailed ophthalmological examination revealed lacrimation, conjunctival redness and the presence of a multilobulated mass, extending over the entire palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva of the right eye. Surgical excision of the entire nictitating membrane was performed.
Results
Histopathology showed that the tumor was a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the conjunctiva. Postoperative recovery was uneventful.
Conclusions
Feline conjunctival mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a very rare malignant neoplasm, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of masses involving the conjunctiva and third eyelid of the cat. Wide surgical excision of the neoplasm and the nictitating membrane is the treatment of choice.
