Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI shows multiple cyst-like brain tumors in three dogs with seizures
By James, Fiona M K et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2012·Department of Clinical Studies, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical and MRI findings in three dogs with polycystic meningiomas.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs, including a spayed female Labrador and two castrated male golden retrievers, were brought in for chronic neurological issues like seizures, circling, and changes in behavior that lasted from three weeks to six months. MRI scans revealed fluid-filled cyst-like masses in their brains, which were later identified as polycystic meningiomas (a type of brain tumor) through surgery and postmortem analysis. These tumors were confirmed to be transitional and fibrous types. Unfortunately, the outcomes for the dogs were not detailed, but the findings highlight the importance of recognizing these rare tumors in dogs with similar symptoms.
People also search for: dog seizures treatment · Labrador brain tumor symptoms · golden retriever behavior changes · polycystic meningioma in dogs
Abstract
One spayed female Labrador retriever and two castrated male golden retrievers were evaluated for chronic (i.e., ranging from 3 wk to 24 wk) neurologic signs localizable to the prosencephalon. Signs included seizures, circling, and behavior changes. MRI demonstrated extra-axial, contrast-enhancing, multiloculated, fluid-filled, cyst-like lesions with a mass effect, causing compression and displacement of brain parenchyma. Differential diagnoses included cystic neoplasm, abscess or other infectious cyst (e.g., alveolar hydatid cyst), or fluid-filled anomaly (e.g., arachnoid cyst). The cyst-like lesions were attached to the rostral falx cerebri in all cases. In addition, case 2 had a second polycystic mass at the caudal diencephalon. Surgical biopsy (case 3 with a single, rostral tumor via transfrontal craniectomy) and postmortem histology (in cases 1 and 2) confirmed polycystic meningiomas. Tumor types were transitional (cases 1 and 3) and fibrous (case 2), with positive immunohistochemical staining for vimentin. Case 3 was also positive for E-cadherin, s100, and CD34. In all cases, staining was predominantly negative for glial fibrillary acid protein and pancytokeratins, supporting a diagnosis of meningioma. This report describes the first cases of polycystic meningiomas in dogs. Polycystic meningiomas are a rare, but important, addition to the differential diagnoses for intracranial cyst-like lesions, significantly affecting planning for surgical resection and other therapeutic interventions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22843828/