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Biopsy in Cats
What is Biopsy?
A biopsy for cats is the act of removing samples of tissues or cells from one area of the body for microscopic analysis. Biopsies require general and/or local anesthetic to perform, as it is an invasive procedure. The removal of tissues and/or cells is conducted by a licensed veterinarian, prepared for analysis by a veterinary technician, and cytological evaluated is conducted by a veterinary pathologist laboratory technician. A biopsy can be taken from any area in the cat’s body and several types of biopsies are available for your veterinarian to choose from. The types of biopsies that are commonly used for felines include the following:
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy: the use of a thin needle attached to a syringe to aspirate a small sample of tissues from a suspicious area.
Core Needle Biopsy: the use of a hollow needle to withdraw cylinders of tissue from a suspicious area.
Stereotactic Core Needle Biopsy: the use of a computer hooked up to x-ray equipment to pinpoint a suspicious area inside the abdomen for the needle to aspirate from.
Biopsy Punch: the skin is numbed and a small device takes a sample of tissue for analysis.
Surgical Biopsy: there are two types of surgical biopsies; Incision biopsy and excisional biopsy.
- Incision Biopsy: removal enough of the tissue to make a diagnosis.
- Excisional Biopsy: removal of entire tumor or suspected area.
Biopsy Procedure in Cats
Prior to conducting the biopsy procedure, the veterinarian will complete a physical examination and review the feline’s medical history. As radiographs, a CT scan, MRI or ultrasound was likely what provoked the need for a biopsy, the results of these test will be reviewed. The cat’s blood and urine will be analyzed to ensure she or he is healthy enough to undergo the procedure, as well as general anesthesia.
- The feline will be injected with a pre-anesthetic drug or sedative.
- The feline will have an esophageal tube placed to infuse oxygen and a gas anesthetic. The feline will be taken to the surgical/biopsy area.
- Oxygen and gas anesthetic will be attached to the esophageal tube, where the rate of infusion will be calculated based on the cat’s weight and age, as well as the duration of the procedure.
- Placement of the cat will depend on the area affected and the hair may be shaved if necessary. The area may also be cleaned with a chlorhexidine and iodine solution to sterilize the area (not necessary for lung biopsy procedures).
- An injectable local anesthetic may be injected into the suspicious area. In surgical biopsy incidences, an anesthetic regional block may be the veterinarian’s choice. An anesthetic block is the act of anesthetizing a total area and preventing nerve responses from triggering pain.
- The veterinarian will accomplish the biopsy type as planned. A biopsy may be accomplished using a scalpel blade, needle, or punch.
- Once the sample of tissues or entire tumor is taken from the feline, the sample is given to the veterinary technician to prepare for the lab and the incision site is closed. The biopsy site may be stitched, stapled or glued closed depending on the area affected.
Efficacy of Biopsy in Cats
The efficacy of a feline biopsy depends on the type of biopsy procedure used, as some procedures do not take enough cellular material to reach a proper diagnosis. The affected area of the cat can also make performing a biopsy difficult, but when a biopsy is taken successfully, the act of conducting a biopsy is highly effective in diagnosing a suspicious area.
Biopsy Recovery in Cats
After the biopsy procedure, the cat will be allowed to return home but activities will be restricted until the incision site has healed. An Elizabethan collar will likely be sent home with the patient to prevent chewing, licking or manipulating the affected area. Results of the biopsy are typically available one to two weeks after the procedure.
Cost of Biopsy in Cats
The estimated cost for a feline biopsy is roughly $150, but greatly depends on the type of biopsy performed. Initial workups, such as the initial examination, blood work, radiographs and other diagnostic imagery, can bring your total cost anywhere from $450-$700.
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Cat Biopsy Considerations
A biopsy can provide vital information about your cat’s condition to the veterinarian, but the price of the procedure may be off-putting to a cat owner. The use of anesthetic may also be of concern for older or very young feline patients.
Biopsy Prevention in Cats
The need for a biopsy in a cat cannot be prevented. A biopsy is often necessary to identify suspicious tissues and it is not until the biopsy is performed will a cat owner known how to prevent the feline illness.
Biopsy Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
short hair
Bella
8 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Watery Eyes
My cat recently had several teeth removed. With that she has a hard mass on her upper jaw, which is making her eye water and she sneezes a lot. She still is eating but not as much. She has lost almost a pound from her dental surgery a month ago. My local vet says there is nothing else he can do because he thinks it’s a tumor. He has given me the number for a vet school to take her to. What will be the next steps? And cost?
May 24, 2018
0 Recommendations
You should go for a consultation with an Oncologist or visit a veterinary college to get a second opinion and a biopsy to help make a diagnosis. However, cost is one of those question marks which vary widely; you should call the veterinary college to ask about pricing for a consult and for a biopsy to get a accurate ballpark. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 24, 2018
I went to a vet because my cat has a huge lump in his leg. The vet did X-rays and said that they needed a biopsy (I agree of course but...)
The vet then said that the biopsy would include full removal of the leg, although no mri was performed.
That seemed wrong. He also said that he thinks it’s a cancer, which I KNOW only X-rays cannot confirm, you know? He also sAid the type of cancer was the most dangerous type for cats, which just seems like a lie at this point. You can’t tell that from an xray alone. And he doesn’t need his whole leg to be removed for a biopsy, right?
May 29, 2018
Ashley
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Short hair domestic
Maya
4 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Just Lump. No Symptoms
Our 4 year old cat has a lump by mammory gland. How soon should the vet do biopsy? Right now she's looking at June 7th which is 17 days from the day of her check up that we told vet about it. Lump been there month or 2
May 22, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Unless the lump is growing very aggressively, 2-3 weeks should not present a problem for the biopsy. if the mass is ulcerating, growing quickly, or causing problems, it would be better to move the appointment up.
May 22, 2018
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Mix
Jack
11 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Lump
My 11 yr old cat has a small lump on his side. It doesn’t seem like it hurts him when I touch it, but it’s concerning. He is acting fine in every way. Normally, I would take an animal to the vet, but last time was traumatic for him. Also, when he got back I guess he smelled like other cats, but my other cat attacked him and would have nothing to do with him for weeks. Can I wait till he gets another symptom? I’m also recently laid off, so a $400 vet bill for nothing will be hard. What do you think?
May 14, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
If the lump does not seem to be bothering Jack, and it isn't growing or changing, you may be fine to monitor the lump for changes. WIthout seeing him, I'm unfortunately not able to comment on what the lump might be, but cats do get skin tags and wart-like growths as they get older. I hope that everything goes well for him!
May 14, 2018
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Domestic Short haired
Vinny
4 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
Coughing
Loss Of Appetite
Our 4 year old, 18lbs cat started coughing frequently, acting strange,then stopped eating as much as he normally does. So we took him to the vet, they ran blood work and did an abdominal x-ray. Blood work was mostly normal and they said his white blood cell count was a little low but that it didn't seem concerning. However, after the abdominal x-ray and then an abdominal ultrasound they said his spleen is enlarged but that his organs seem healthy. He is now not eating at all and when he was eating, he was throwing up everything. They also did a chest x-ray because of his coughing and said he either has asthma or mild bronchitis. the next step they want to do is a needle aspiration. Any insight on what could be wrong with him?
May 7, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Treating Vinny for possible asthma or bronchitis seems a common sense thing to me to do, although I'm not sure what medications he may be on already. That may be something that would be worth discussing with your veterinarian, to see if he improves on medications.
May 7, 2018
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Domestic Short haired
Vinny
4 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
Coughing
Loss Of Appetite
Our 4 year old, 18lbs cat started coughing frequently, acting strange,then stopped eating as much as he normally does. So we took him to the vet, they ran blood work and did an abdominal x-ray. Blood work was mostly normal and they said his white blood cell count was a little low but that it didn't seem concerning. However, after the abdominal x-ray and then an abdominal ultrasound they said his spleen is enlarged but that his organs seem healthy. He is now not eating at all and when he was eating, he was throwing up everything. They also did a chest x-ray because of his coughing and said he either has asthma or mild bronchitis. the next step they want to do is a needle aspiration. Any insight on what could be wrong with him?
May 7, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
From your description, it seems that Vinny may have a problem with his spleen, or asthma or bronchitis. Given his age, I'm not sure if he is on any medications, but it may be worthwhile treating for the possible asthma or bronchitis to see if that improves things before proceeding with the needle biopsy. I cannot examine him, but this might be worth discussing with your veterinarian.
May 7, 2018
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