FrançaisThe different forms
| Form | Typical cat | To know |
|---|---|---|
| Low-grade intestinal (small-cell) | Older cat, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea | 60–75% of gut lymphomas; very uncommon under 8 years of age [1, 2]. |
| High-grade (large-cell) | Any site, faster course | Needs more intensive treatment; a shorter outlook [3]. |
| Mediastinal (chest) | Young cat, often Siamese or Oriental | Historically linked to FeLV [1, 4]. |
| Nasal | Nasal discharge, noisy breathing | Median survival of 536 days counting deaths from lymphoma only, in 97 cats [5]. |
| Renal (kidney) | Large kidneys, kidney values rise | 3.6% of 740 cats with lymphoma in one study [6]. |
The FeLV link, then and now
In the past, 50–70% of feline lymphomas were linked to feline leukemia virus (FeLV) [1]. A US survey covering 1983 to 2003 found that FeLV-associated lymphoma had become much less important, while intestinal lymphoma has increased [4]. Most cats with gut lymphoma today are FeLV-negative [2]. See FeLV and FIV in cats.
What the blood work shows
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin): low in 50–80% of cats with low-grade intestinal lymphoma [1].
- Albumin: low in about half of cats with low-grade lymphoma, but also in many cats with inflammatory bowel disease; usually only mildly low [1, 2]. See albumin and globulin.
- Calcium: a high calcium is uncommon in cats and is more often due to other cancers or an idiopathic cause than to lymphoma [7].
- Kidney values rise when lymphoma infiltrates the kidneys. See kidney disease in cats.
Blood tests cannot distinguish low-grade lymphoma from inflammatory bowel disease [2].
How to read the cobalamin line
Here is an example line from an older cat losing weight.
- Abbreviation B12, cobalamin or Cbl.
- Result 180 ng/L in this illustrative line: low.
- Unit ng/L, the same as pg/mL.
- Laboratory interval Values above 290 ng/L were taken as normal in a review of feline lymphoma [1].
- Flag L: below the interval. Points to disease of the small intestine (lymphoma or inflammation); it is often supplemented [1, 2].
How lymphoma is confirmed
- Ultrasound: a thickened muscle layer of the small intestine is common, but it is seen in both lymphoma and inflammation [1, 2].
- Needle cytology cannot tell low-grade lymphoma from inflammation, though it helps find high-grade lymphoma [2].
- Intestinal biopsies are the gold standard, taken by endoscopy or surgery [2].
- Immunohistochemistry and clonality (PARR) help in doubtful cases, but are read together with the biopsy, never alone [2].
Outlook
Low-grade lymphoma has a good outlook: in 41 cats, median survival was 704 days, and other studies report 510 to over 1,100 days [1, 8]. Intermediate- to high-grade lymphoma is more serious: with chemotherapy, median survival was 97 days in 119 cats, but 318 days in cats that went into complete remission [3].
Related articles
En français : lymphome du chat.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
- Is the vitamin B12 low, and should it be supplemented?
- Is the albumin low, and is protein lost through the gut?
- Does the ultrasound show thickened intestines or enlarged lymph nodes?
- Are biopsies needed to tell lymphoma from inflammatory bowel disease?
- Is it low-grade or high-grade, and what is the outlook?
Get your cat’s blood work explained together.
AI DiagAnimals reads albumin, cobalamin, calcium, kidney values and the blood count together with your laboratory’s intervals, and prepares the questions for your vet. The service opens soon: leave your email to be told first.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cat live a long time with lymphoma?
Yes, with the low-grade intestinal form: median survival was about 2 years in one study [8].
Can blood tests diagnose lymphoma in cats?
No. They give clues such as low vitamin B12 or albumin, but a biopsy is needed [2].
Is lymphoma in cats caused by FeLV?
Some forms were, especially in young cats. Today most cats with intestinal lymphoma are FeLV-negative [2, 4].
Is lymphoma the same as inflammatory bowel disease?
No, but the low-grade form looks very similar on blood tests and ultrasound; biopsies tell them apart [2].
Do cats with lymphoma have high calcium?
Rarely. Unlike dogs, cats with lymphoma seldom have a high calcium [7].
Sources
- Paulin MV et al. Feline low-grade alimentary lymphoma: an emerging entity and a potential animal model for human disease. BMC Vet Res. 2018;14(1):306. doi.org/10.1186/s12917-018-1635-5
- Marsilio S et al. ACVIM consensus statement guidelines on diagnosing and distinguishing low-grade neoplastic from inflammatory lymphocytic chronic enteropathies in cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2023;37(3):794-816. doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16690
- Collette SA et al. Treatment of feline intermediate- to high-grade lymphoma with a modified University of Wisconsin-Madison protocol: 119 cases (2004-2012). Vet Comp Oncol. 2016;14 Suppl 1:136-146. doi.org/10.1111/vco.12158
- Louwerens M et al. Feline lymphoma in the post-feline leukemia virus era. J Vet Intern Med. 2005;19(3):329-335. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15954547
- Haney SM et al. Survival analysis of 97 cats with nasal lymphoma: a multi-institutional retrospective study (1986-2006). J Vet Intern Med. 2009;23(2):287-294. doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0243.x
- Williams AG et al. Incidence and treatment of feline renal lymphoma: 27 cases. J Feline Med Surg. 2021;23(10):936-944. doi.org/10.1177/1098612X20984363
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Calcium. eclinpath.com/chemistry/minerals/calcium
- Kiselow MA et al. Outcome of cats with low-grade lymphocytic lymphoma: 41 cases (1995-2005). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008;232(3):405-410. doi.org/10.2460/javma.232.3.405
Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.