Metastatic basal cell carcinoma in a cat with brief review of the human and veterinary literature

Feline basal cell carcinomas generally have a benign biological behaviour with a low metastatic rate, and little contemporary information exists regarding potential metastatic behaviour. The purpose of this report is to describe the protracted clinical course of metastatic basal cell carcinoma in a 10-year-old female spayed Persian cat affecting the right pelvic limb with nodal metastasis at the time of diagnosis and eventual metastasis to the lungs, lumbar spine, and skin 14 months after initial diagnosis. This report serves as a reminder that these tumours can metastasize and reviews information from human literature that may be helpful in understanding the metastatic pattern, treatment, and prognosis of basal cell carcinoma in veterinary medicine.