Feline mammary carcinoma: a retrospective evaluation of 17 cases.

Seventeen biopsies of feline mammary carcinoma submitted to the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing were reviewed. All 17 cases were female cats. Data on age, reproductive status (sexually intact vs. neutered), therapy, outcome of the cases and histological features were consistent with data on feline mammary carcinoma previously reported. Four of these 17 cats had a history of receiving exogenous progestin prior to tumor development. The possible role of progestins as initiators or promoters of feline mammary carcinoma was discussed. The use of feline mammary carcinoma as a model for carcinoma of the breast in women was reviewed.