What Is Your Diagnosis?

A 10-year-old intact male European cat was referred to the Veterinarian Teaching Hospital of Bologna University (Italy) because of a one-month history of anorexia and dysorexia and the presence of two subcutaneous, nonpainful, nodular swellings in the occipital area. The clinical history reported by the owner revealed a periodontal disease, treated with the extraction of both lower canine teeth, and a previous cytological diagnosis of generic “malignancy” from fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the two subcutaneous masses. On physical examination, the patient, usually aggressive, appeared deeply depressed and in poor body condition with pale mucous membranes. Two raised, firm to hard masses measuring 2.5 x 3-cm and 1 x 1-cm were identified in the occipital area. The overlying skin was freely movable and covered with grossly normal hair. A moderate swelling in the mandibular symphisis was also detected. Radiographs were taken of the skull and FNA samples were drawn from the occipital masses, smeared and stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa.