Intraoperative visualization of feline liposarcoma using short-wave infrared fluorescence imaging and indocyanine green

Abstract

A 9-year-old domestic short hair cat presented with a firm thoracic mass suspected to be a lipoma. Preoperative indocyanine green was administered intravenously at a dose of 5 mg/kg for short-wave infrared fluorescence imaging. Intraoperatively, a plaque-like lipoma overlaid a subjacent mass that exhibited strong fluorescence. Both were excised, and histopathology confirmed the subjacent mass as a well-differentiated liposarcoma. The cat recovered uneventfully with no recurrence at 11 months. This case highlights the utility of short-wave infrared fluorescence imaging in distinguishing benign from malignant tissues intraoperatively and enabling precise resection. To our knowledge, this is the first report of feline liposarcoma identified through short-wave infrared fluorescence imaging, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool in veterinary oncology.