Feline Spinal Cord Diseases

Abstract

The objective of this article is to review the recent literature that reports on the most common diseases affecting the spinal cord of cats, and to draw some general conclusions that will be useful to formulate diagnosis and prognosis for feline spinal patients. The most common types of feline spinal cord diseases documented were inflammatory/infectious diseases, and feline infectious peritonitis was the most common disease, representing approximately 50% of all feline myelitis. Neoplasms were documented in approximately 25% of cases; lymphosarcoma was the most common tumor affecting the spinal cord of cats, with reported prevalence between 28% and 40%. Cats diagnosed with spinal lymphosarcoma were significantly younger (median age 4 years) than cats with other spinal cord tumors (median age 10 years). Cats with clinical signs of intervertebral disc disease had a median age of 8 years, and 67% had Hansen type I disc protrusions. The most commonly affected intervertebral disc was at the L4 to L5 intervertebral disc space. Fibrocartilaginous embolism-affected older cats (median age 10 years), seemed to predominate in the cervicothoracic intumescence, and clinical signs were markedly lateralized, especially when the cervical region was affected.

Acute Spinal Cord Injury

“…24 The prognosis is gathered from around 15 case reports or small case series. 5 Cases managed conservatively tended to have a poor outcome, but this Fig. 6.…”

“…Marioni-Henry 5 also summarized findings in 44 cats and found an increased prevalence of IVDH at T12-L1 and L4-L6 disc spaces, which are regions maximally dorsiflexed and ventroflexed, respectively, during the stance phase in this species. 5,25 It is suggested that 6% of cats suffering external trauma have SCI. 5 …”

Tumors of the Nervous System

“…110 Canine spinal tumors tend to occur in large breeds, typically at an older age (e.g., 9 to 10 years). [105][106][107][108] Vertebral osteosarcoma in cats is usually reported in older patients (e.g., >8 years). 105,106 Boxers may be predisposed to spinal meningiomas.…”

“…105,106 Meningiomas and malignant nerve sheath tumors (MNSTs) arise most frequently in the cervical spinal cord, and MNSTs are especially prominent in the cervical intumescence area. 107,108 Pathology The category of extradural tumors includes primary and secondary (metastatic or local invasion) vertebral and soft tissue tumors. 109 More aggressive meningiomas (grade II versus grade I) are likely to occur in the thoracolumbar region and in younger dogs.…”

Parasite meningomyelitis in cats in Uruguay

“…However, pure meningomyelitis and myelitis are rare (TIPOLD; STEIN, 2010). In a recent review of spinal cord diseases in 205 cats, the causes found were: inflammatory/ infectious diseases in 32% of the animals, followed by neoplasms (27%), trauma (14%), hereditary or congenital diseases (11%), vascular diseases (9%), degenerative (6%) and metabolic diseases (1%) (MARIONI-HENRY, 2010). …”