Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Case summary An 11-year-old, male neutered domestic shorthair cat with pre-existing International Renal Interest Society stage 3 chronic kidney disease and paraneoplastic polycythemia was presented for evaluation of a left renal mass. Cytology was consistent with nephroblastoma, well-differentiated carcinoma, adenoma or papilloma. Owing to the cat’s compromised renal function, nephrectomy was considered high risk, and ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) was performed as a nephron-sparing alternative. The procedure was well tolerated without immediate complications. Renal values remained stable throughout follow-up, and the paraneoplastic polycythemia resolved after ablation. A delayed complication of recurrent abscess and fistula formation at the probe insertion site extending along the body wall occurred, but resolved with surgical debridement, drainage and an extended course of antibiotic therapy. Near-total resolution of the renal mass was confirmed on follow-up ultrasound, and the cat remained clinically well 462 days after ablation without evidence of recurrence or metastasis. Relevance and novel information Primary renal tumors in cats are uncommon, and nephrectomy is the recommended treatment; however, it may be contraindicated in cats with concurrent renal disease. There is no established role for chemotherapy in feline primary renal tumors, leaving limited options for cats who cannot undergo surgery. Although MWA is widely used in human medicine for small renal tumors and has been reported in other tumor types in dogs, it has not been described in cats. This case demonstrates that MWA may be a feasible and potentially effective nephron-sparing treatment option for feline primary renal tumors, and that MWA may be effective at resolving paraneoplastic polycythemia in cases where nephrectomy may be contraindicated.
Language: English
Topic: Veterinary Oncology Research
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $700
OpenAlex ID: W7171812836
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