Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Brain tumor with behavior changes in 8-month-old Maine Coon cat
By Greta Foiani et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2022·Laboratory of Histopathology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, SCS3, Legnaro, Italy, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Case report: Infratentorial Embryonal Tumor with Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes (ETANTR) in an 8-month-old Maine Coon
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-month-old female Maine Coon was brought to the vet because she was acting strangely and not eating. Over five days, her condition worsened, leading to stupor and coma, and she was ultimately euthanized. A post-mortem examination revealed a tumor in her brain, which was identified as an Embryonal Tumor with Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes (ETANTR). This type of tumor is very rare in young cats and is made up of primitive cells that can develop into various types of brain cells. Unfortunately, there was no effective treatment for this aggressive tumor, and the cat did not survive.
People also search for: cat behavioral changes · Maine Coon anorexia · cat brain tumor symptoms
Abstract
An 8-month-old female Main Coon with a history of recurrent behavioral changes and anorexia was presented with sternal recumbency and depression. Within 5 days, the cat progressively worsened with symptoms of stupor and coma and was euthanized. At post-mortem examination, a solid, grayish infratentorial mass located in the midline rostrally to the cerebellum, was observed. Histologically, highly cellular clusters of small-to-medium undifferentiated cells were intermingled with paucicellular areas with fibrillary eosinophilic (neuropil-like) appearance. Numerous multilayered (ependymoblastic) true rosettes were present. The mitotic activity was frequent (up to 15 mitoses/HPF), involving both undifferentiated cells and rosettes. By immunohistochemistry (IHC), tumor cells were diffusely positive for vimentin, variably for synaptophysin, S-100, and NSE, and focally for NeuN; they were negative for GFAP and CK AE1/AE3. The histological and IHC aspects were consistent with an Embryonal Tumor with Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes (ETANTR). Embryonal neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS) are characterized by primitive undifferentiated cells, able to develop toward neuronal, glial, ependymal, and mesenchymal lines. Although extremely rare, juvenile embryonal tumors should be considered in the differentials of CNS disorders in young cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.961056