An eight-month-old, male, neutered, domestic short hair cat was presented for further investigation of white granuloma-like lesions on the tongue and recent onset regurgitation. The owner reported that the cat had an ‘unusual’ gait. Moderate increases in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminostransferase and markedly elevated creatine kinase were present. Thoracic radiographs revealed moderate-to-severe oesophageal impaction, cardiomegaly and an irregular appearance of the diaphragm. Endoscopy revealed a distended oesophagus with accumulation of ingesta. Difficulties were encountered when passing the endoscope through the cardia. Histology of the white granuloma-like lesions were pathognomonic of calcinosis circumscripta. These features raised the suspicion of feline muscular dystrophy. Muscle biopsies and electromyography were declined, and the patient was euthanased. Postmortem examination, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were suggestive of dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy (DDMD). This case emphasises the importance of including DDMD as a differential diagnosis for regurgitation and lingual calcinosis circumscripta in cats.

This study provides vital information for veterinarians, breeders and owners of CKCS about common presentations of syringomyelia and other neurological diseases to allow for earlier recognition of these potentially painful disorders. It concludes that syringomyelia is the most prevalent neurological disease in referral practices and emphasizes the frequency of pain associated with neurological disorders, but when compared to previous studies, it may be underdiagnosed in first opinion practices.

A 14-year-old male neutered domestic short-hair cat was presented for a history of behavioral changes and episodes of urinary retention. Neurological examination was consistent with a multifocal intracranial neuroanatomical localization, with suspected right sided lateralisation and suspected raised intracranial pressure (ICP). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an intraventricular multilobulated well-defined T2W-hyperintense and T1W-isointense, markedly contrast enhancing mass lesion within the dorsal aspect of the III ventricle extending into the left lateral ventricle, causing hypertensive obstructive hydrocephalus. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) was placed within the left lateral ventricle, followed by a radiation therapy (RT) course of 45 Gy total dose in 18 daily fractions. Six-months post-RT, computed tomography revealed mild reduction in mass size and resolution of the hydrocephalus. The patient was neurologically normal with no medical treatment. Raised ICP causes severe clinical signs, can lead to brain ischaemia and herniation, and significantly increases anesthetic risk during RT. Placement of a VPS in cats with hypertensive obstructive hydrocephalus may allow improvement of neurological signs due to raised ICP, and therefore making the patient a more stable candidate for anesthesia and radiation therapy.