Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Feline Intracranial Neoplasia: Retrospective Analysis of 46 Cats

Abstract

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of feline brain tumors and to determine whether these characteristics can be used to accurately predict the histologic diagnosis. MRI scans of 46 cats with histologically confirmed brain tumors were reviewed, including 33 meningiomas, 6 lymphomas, 4 gliomas, 2 olfactory neuroblastomas, and 1 pituitary tumor. MRI features including axial origin, shape, location, signal intensity, contrast enhancement, peritumoral edema, and mass effect were reviewed and characterized for each tumor type. Tumor shape, axial origin, contrast enhancement, and degree of peritumoral edema aided in the identification of tumor type. Meningiomas were always extra-axial and were most often ovoid with marked contrast enhancement and mild peritumoral edema. Gliomas were always intra-axial with ring enhancement and generally caused more peritumoral edema than other tumors. The brain tumor was detected on MRI in 45 (98%) cats. Two blinded independent reviewers correctly identified 82% of all of the tumor types on the basis of MRI appearance alone. Thus, MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool for the detection of brain tumors in cats, and it provides important information to aid in the diagnosis of tumor type.

Neuropathology of Italian Cats in Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance

“…Lymphoma was the most common brain tumor, but has been second to meningioma in most studies. 17,20,21,30 Cats with lymphoma are variably seropositive for FeLV or FIV; 7,31 however, all samples from the 8 cats with lymphoma in this study were negative for FIV antibodies and FeLV antigens. In 5 cases, lymphoma involved mainly the meninges of the brain and in 1 case was confined in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus of the obex.…”

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

“…In MRIs, meningiomas in cats are almost always extra-transverse with or without a dural tail and possess marked homogenous contrast enhancement [8]. Lesions are usually reported as being well-margined with decreased signal intensity on T1-weighted and increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images.…”

Graduação histológica e aspectos clínico-patológicos relacionados em 22 meningiomas de cães

“…Meningioma é um neoplasma do sistema nervoso central (SNC) que se origina das células meningoteliais das leptomeninges, que na maioria são considerados benignos do ponto de vista histológico, mas pelo crescimento dentro do espaço intracraniano e subdural, geram consequências malignas do ponto de vista biológico (Costa 2009). Nos Estados Unidos é o tumor primário do SNC mais comum em cães (40% dos tumores primários) (Snyder et al 2006, Vandevelde et al 2012) e gatos (Troxel et al 2004), e são relatados esporadicamente em cavalos (Kreeger et al 2002), bovinos (Josephson & Little 1990) e ovinos (Koestner & Higgins 2002, Vandevelde et al 2012.…”