All feline diagnoses

Your cat was diagnosed with Fibrosarcoma (Non-Injection-Site). Non-injection-site fibrosarcoma in cats. Less common than FISS. Arises spontaneously without vaccination/injection history. Typically occurs on head, limbs, or trunk. Locally invasive with moderate metastatic potential. Distinguished from FISS by location and absence of injection history. Compare 4 treatment options for cats including Surgery + Adjuvant Radiation, Surgery Alone, Palliative Care — with survival times, costs, and what to expect during treatment.

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Fibrosarcoma (Non-Injection-Site)

feline

Mesenchymal

About This Cancer

Non-injection-site fibrosarcoma in cats is a connective tissue cancer arising from fibroblasts — the cells that produce the structural fibrous framework of tissues. Unlike injection-site sarcoma (FISS), this form develops spontaneously without a known link to previous injections or vaccinations. It typically presents as a firm, progressive mass most commonly found on the head, limbs, or trunk. The tumour is locally invasive, growing along tissue planes in a manner that makes the true extent of disease larger than the palpable lump suggests. Surgical excision with wide margins is the treatment of choice, and radiation therapy can be a valuable adjunct when margins are incomplete. It is worth noting that the published evidence base for non-ISS feline fibrosarcoma is very limited, with only small case series available. Most treatment recommendations are extrapolated from FISS and canine STS data. Clinicians should discuss this evidence gap openly with owners.

Prognostic Factors(3)
Margin statusClean margins associated with significantly lower recurrence. First surgery is best opportunity for complete excision.(Zajc et al., 2022 (PMID 35639367))
Histologic gradeHigher grade associated with increased local recurrence and metastatic potential.
Tumour locationHead/distal limb locations may limit surgical margins, affecting local control.
Minimum Workup(5 steps)
1CT/MRI for surgical planning
2Biopsy with histopathology and grading
3Thoracic radiographs
4CBC, chemistry panel
5Regional lymph node assessment

Median Survival Time Comparison

How long the average patient survives with each treatment

Bar opacity reflects evidence strength
Surgery + Adjuvant Radiation
~91.6 mo
Surgery Alone
See notes
Palliative Care
See notes
Palliative Care
See notes
Reading this page: MST (Median Survival Time) is how long the average patient survives with a given treatment. ORR (Overall Response Rate) is the percentage of patients whose tumour shrank or disappeared. CR = Complete Response (tumour gone); PR = Partial Response (tumour shrank). Hover over any abbreviation for a quick explanation.
Strength of Evidence

Each treatment is rated by how much published research supports its use. Solid bars indicate stronger evidence; dashed bars mean less certainty.

StrongLarge published studies with strong agreement among veterinary oncologists.
ModerateWidely used in clinical practice, but supported by smaller or retrospective studies.
IndirectEvidence comes from a different tumour type or species and has been applied here.
LimitedVery little published data is available for this specific treatment.

Please note: All treatment data is sourced from published peer-reviewed literature. Survival times and cost figures are approximate guides. Your pet's individual factors — including tumour grade, stage, and overall health — will influence outcomes and should guide all treatment decisions. The strength-of-evidence rating reflects how much research exists, not how strongly a treatment is recommended. This tool is designed to help you have informed conversations with your veterinary oncologist, not to replace them. Costs shown are US referral centre estimates and may vary significantly by region.