Feline Intracranial Neoplasia: Retrospective Review of 160 Cases (1985–2001)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of different tumor types within a large cohort of cats with intracranial neoplasia and to attempt to correlate signalment, tumor size and location, and survival time for each tumor. Medical records of 160 cats with confirmed intracranial neoplasia evaluated between 1985 and 2001 were reviewed. Parameters evaluated included age, sex, breed, FeLV/FIV status, clinical signs, duration of signs, number of tumors, tumor location(s), imaging results, treatment, survival times, and histopathologic diagnosis. Most of the cats were older (11.3 +/- 3.8 years). Primary tumors accounted for 70.6% of cases. Metastasis and direct extension of secondary tumors accounted for only 5.6 and 3.8% of cases, respectively. Twelve cats (7.5%) had 2 or more discrete tumors of the same type, whereas 16 cats (10.0%) had 2 different types of intracranial tumors. The most common tumor types were meningioma (n = 93, 58.1%), lymphoma (n = 23, 14.4%), pituitary tumors (n = 14, 8.8%), and gliomas (n = 12, 7.5%). The most common neurological signs were altered consciousness (n = 42, 26.2%), circling (n = 36, 22.5%), and seizures (n = 36, 22.5%). Cats without specific neurological signs were common (n = 34, 21.2%). The tumor was considered an incidental finding in 30 (18.8%) cats. In addition to expected relationships (eg, meninges and meningioma, pituitary and pituitary tumors), we found that lesion location was predictive of tumor type with diffuse cerebral or brainstem involvement predictive of lymphoma and third ventricle involvement predictive of meningioma.

The Central Nervous System

“…However, because of the infl ammatory nature of CSF seen with primary intracranial neoplasia, this test may not be helpful in differentiating between neoplastic and other infl ammatory diseases. Similar results were found in a series of CSF analyses from 28 cats with intracranial neoplasia (Troxel et al, 2003) in that albuminocytologic dissociation was noted in 8 (28.6%) cats. The remaining 20 (71.4%) cats had varied increases in nucleated cell counts while a defi nitive diagnosis of lymphoma was made in only one cat in which lymphoid blast cells were detected in the CSF.…”

Case Report: Diagnosis of Cerebello-Pontine Angle Meningioma through Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)

“…However, meningiomas are among the most common intracranial neoplasm in domestic cats and sufficient data regarding location, associated symptoms and diagnostic features of these lesions in this species has been documented in literature [4,9]. Therefore, information for diagnosis of intracranial tumors in wild felids can only be extrapolated from that of small animals.…”

MRI and clinical resolution of a suspected intracranial toxoplasma granuloma with medical treatment in a domestic short hair cat

“…The major differential diagnosis for a solitary, extra-axial, homogenously contrast enhancing mass lesion in the cat brain would be neoplasia, with a meningioma being the most commonly recognised (Gordon and others 1994, Troxel and others 2003). Surgical excision of feline meningiomas is associated with a favourable prognosis and is often the treatment of choice (Tomek and others 2006, Cameron and others 2015, Troxel and others 2003).…”