Neurolymphomatosis in a cat

Abstract

A 9-year-old male mixed breed cat showed chronic progressive neurological symptoms, which are represented by ataxia and seizures. At necropsy, spinal roots and spinal ganglions at the level of sixth cervical nerve to second thoracic nerve were bilaterally swollen and replaced by white mass lesions. Right brachial plexus and cranial nerves (III, V and VII) were also swollen. A mass lesion was found in the right frontal lobe of the cerebrum. Histologically, neoplastic lymphocytes extensively involved the peripheral nerves, and they infiltrated into the cerebral and spinal parenchyma according to the peripheral nerve tract. Immunohistochemically, most neoplastic lymphocytes were positive for CD20. The clinical and histological features in this case resemble those of neurolymphomatosis in humans.

Feline lymphoma in the nervous system: pathological, immunohistochemical, and etiological aspects in 16 cats

“…Lymphoma is the main secondary tumor in the feline CNS and neurolymphomatosis is a rare condition in cats, other animals, and humans (Allen & Amis 1975, Hankenson et al 1998, Kuntzer et al 2000, Mellanby et al 2003, Higgins et al 2008, Choi et al 2013, Shree et al 2016. The neoplastic infiltration in leptomeninges (leptomeningeal lymphomatosis) and perivascular space from medullar parenchyma, as observed in the present study, is a common consequence relative to spinal nerve neurolymphomatosis (Lane et al 1994, Schaffer et al 2012, Mandrioli et al 2012, Rupp et al 2014, Sakurai et al 2016. The unusual feature of this condition can lead to confusion with other neurological conditions, such as vasculitis and mononeuritis (Mandrioli et al 2012).…”

CD56+ B-cell Neurolymphomatosis in a Cat

“…Currently, only seven cases of feline neurolymphomatosis have been reported (Zaki and Hurvitz, 1976;Mellanby et al, 2003;Higgins et al, 2008;Linzmann et al, 2009;Mandrioli et al, 2012;Sakurai et al, 2016). The comparison between previously reported cases of feline neurolymphomatosis and the present case is shown in Supplementary Table 1.…”

“…Neurolymphomatosis is often associated with neurological deficits related to the affected spinal cord roots, nerve or trunk (Linzmann et al, 2009). Since neoplastic lymphocytes heavily infiltrate peripheral nerves, causing Wallerian degeneration of the nerves while preserving axons, patients with neurolymphomatosis usually present with progressive peripheral neuropathy including mononeuropathy, asymmetrical regional neuropathies in the forelimb or hindlimb, plexopathy, polyradiculopathies or cauda equina syndrome (Kelly and Karcher, 2005;Mandara et al, 2016;Sakurai et al, 2016). In cats, immune-mediated and infectious polyradiculoneuritis should be considered in the differential diagnoses (Flecknell and Lucke, 1978;Henke et al, 2009;Mandara et al, 2016).…”

“…Most of the cats were humanely destroyed following the deterioration of neurological signs and poor response to therapy. One cat received dexamethasone, mannitol, furosemide and diazepam for treating seizures and survived for 10 months (Sakurai et al, 2016). In man, primary lymphoma of the peripheral nervous system appears to be aggressive, but may respond to therapy (Misdraji et al, 2000).…”

Neurolymphomatosis caused by T-cell lymphosarcoma in a cat: imaging description and treatment review

“…Neurolymphomatosis (NL) is an uncommon condition seen across multiple species (including people, domestic dogs and cats, and bovine and avian species), characterized by infiltration of nerve(s) with neoplastic lymphocytes. 1–21 Though the condition has only recently been recognized as NL in the veterinary literature, reports of neoplastic lymphocytic nerve invasion have been documented in animals. 2–9,15–19…”