Condition3 connections · 1 source
Injection Site Sarcoma
Injection-site sarcomas are aggressive tumors that develop at previous injection sites in cats, most commonly associated with vaccines. They are locally invasive and have a high recurrence rate after surgery.
Key Facts
- Incidence: approximately 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 30,000 vaccinations
- Develops weeks to years after injection at the injection site
- Highly locally invasive; wide surgical margins required (3-5 cm)
- High recurrence rate even with aggressive surgery
- Treatment: radical surgery, radiation, and possibly chemotherapy
- Current vaccination guidelines: vaccinate in distal limbs (not between shoulders) to allow amputation if needed
- Any lump at a vaccination site persisting >3 months or growing >2 cm should be biopsied
- Species: cats