Analytical Study of Feline Osteosarcoma: Clinical Presentation, Radiographic Features, and Survival Data in Nigeria

Feline osteosarcoma is an aggressive primary bone tumor with distinct biological behavior and epidemiological characteristics compared to its canine counterpart, yet its clinical and radiographic features have not been systematically analyzed in the Nigerian veterinary context. This analytical study characterizes the clinical presentation, radiographic findings, histopathological profile, and survival outcomes of feline osteosarcoma at veterinary referral centers in Lagos and Abuja between January 2021 and December 2023. Twenty-two confirmed osteosarcoma cases in domestic cats were enrolled. Complete radiographic assessment of affected anatomical sites was performed, and all surgical specimens underwent histopathological grading. Surgical management, adjuvant chemotherapy, and palliative care protocols were documented. Appendicular osteosarcoma constituted 64% of cases, with the tibia and femur being most commonly affected. Axial osteosarcoma involving the skull and mandible accounted for 36% of cases. Radiographic features including bone destruction, periosteal new bone formation, and soft tissue mineralization were systematically characterized per case. Complete surgical resection was achieved in 55% of cases, and adjuvant doxorubicin-based chemotherapy was administered in 40% of cats with complete resection. Median survival following complete resection with chemotherapy was 24 months, substantially longer than the canine osteosarcoma median. Local tumor recurrence rather than pulmonary metastasis was the more common cause of treatment failure in axial cases. These findings provide the first analytically structured dataset on feline osteosarcoma in Nigeria, contributing to international comparative oncology literature. Keywords: feline osteosarcoma, bone tumor, radiographic diagnosis, surgical oncology, survival analysis.