The objective of this study is to determine the rate of toxicity, median survival time (MST) and prognostic factors in dogs with presumed intracranial meningiomas that were treated with stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT). Patient demographics, neurological history, details of SRT plans and response to treatment (including toxicity and survival times) were examined for potential prognostic factors. Overall MST (MST) due to death for any cause was 561 days. There was a mild to moderate exacerbation of neurological symptoms 3-16 weeks following SRT treatments in 11/30 (36.7%) of dogs. This presumed adverse event was treated with corticosteroids, and improvement was seen in most of these dogs. Death within 6 months of treatment as a result of worsening neurologic signs was seen in 4/30 (13.3%) of dogs. Volume of normal brain that received full dose at a prescription of 8Gy × 3 fractions was predictive of death due to neurological problems within this 6-month period.

No abstract

Identification of metastatic disease critically impacts the care and prognosis of patients with neoplasia. Multiple techniques exist for identifying the sentinel or first lymph node(s) that receive draining tumour lymph. Identification of the sentinel lymph node enables accurate tissue sampling for determination of lymphatic metastasis. The aims of this study were to develop a computed tomography (CT) protocol for identifying the sentinel lymph node in dogs with tumours of the head and neck. In addition, indirect CT lymphography was compared to lymphoscintigraphy and vital dye injection to determine which technique more reliably identified the sentinel lymph node. CT indirect lymphography using intratumoral injection of iodinated contrast identified draining lymphatic vessels in eight of 18 dogs and identified the sentinel lymph node in five of 18 dogs. CT indirect lymphography employing fourquadrant peritumoral injection of iodinated contrast identified draining lymphatic vessels in 18 of 20 dogs and identified the sentinel lymph node in 11 of 20 dogs. Vital dye injection and lymphoscintigraphy identified the sentinel lymph node in 17 of 18 and 20 of 20 dogs, respectively. Identified sentinel lymph nodes were either ipsilateral or bilateral to the primary tumour. Both CT techniques were found to be safe and simple. Peritumoral injection has the greatest promise for the detection of sentinel lymph nodes in various head and neck cancers using CT, while lymphoscintigraphy had the greatest success of the compared techniques.

While administration of MSC culture expanded from cryopreserved adipose was not associated with adverse effects, significant improvement in renal function was not observed immediately after administration. Long-term follow-up is necessary to determine whether MSC administration affects disease progression in cats with CKD.

Objectives The objective was to describe ultrasonographic characteristics of cats with stable chronic kidney disease (CKD) and determine if these were significantly different from cats with pyelonephritis (Pyelo) and ureteral obstruction (UO), to aid in clinical assessment during uremic crisis. Methods Sixty-six cats with stable CKD were prospectively enrolled, as well as normal control cats (n = 10), cats with a clinical diagnosis of Pyelo (n = 13) and cats with UO confirmed by surgical resolution (n = 11). Renal ultrasound was performed and routine still images and cine loops were obtained. Analysis included degree of pelvic dilation, and presence and degree of ureteral dilation. Measurements were compared between groups using non-parametric one-way ANOVA with Dunn's post-hoc analysis. Results In total, 66.6% of CKD cats had measurable renal pelvic dilation compared with 30.0% of normal cats, 84.6% of Pyelo cats and 100% of UO cats. There was no statistically significant difference in renal pelvic widths between CKD cats and normal cats, or CKD cats and Pyelo cats. On almost all measurement categories, UO cats had significantly greater renal pelvic widths compared with CKD cats and normal cats ( P <0.05) but not Pyelo cats. Six percent of stable CKD cats had measurable proximal ureteral dilation on one or both sides vs 46.2% of Pyelo cats and 81.8% of UO cats. There was no statistically significant difference in proximal ureteral width between normal and CKD cats, or between Pyelo and UO cats. There was a statistically significant difference in proximal ureteral width between CKD and Pyelo cats, CKD and UO cats, normal and UO cats, and normal and Pyelo cats. Conclusions and relevance No significant difference in renal pelvic widths between CKD cats and Pyelo cats was seen. These data suggest CKD cats should have a baseline ultrasonography performed so that abnormalities documented during a uremic crisis can be better interpreted.