Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs, causes, and outcomes of central cord syndrome in cats
By Ros, Carlos et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2024·1Neurology and Neurosurgery Service, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical signs, causes, and outcome of central cord syndrome in 22 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old cat was brought in with signs of central cord syndrome, which can cause weakness and coordination problems due to issues in the spinal cord. The cat's symptoms varied from sudden onset to chronic progression, with the most common cause being ischemic myelopathy, a condition where blood flow to the spinal cord is reduced. Unfortunately, the prognosis was poor for many of the cats studied, with over half not recovering well, especially those with chronic signs. Treatment options may vary depending on the underlying cause, but outcomes can be challenging.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the signalment, clinical findings, presumptive or definitive diagnosis, and outcome in cats with central cord syndrome (CCS). ANIMALS: 22 cats. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Cats evaluated for CCS at 7 referral hospitals between 2017 and 2021 were included. Information retrieved from medical records included signalment, physical and neurological examination findings, diagnostic investigations, definitive or presumptive diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. RESULTS: Median age at presentation was 9 years. Two neuroanatomical localizations were associated with CCS: C1-C5 spinal cord segments in 17 (77.3%) cats and C6-T2 spinal cord segments in 5 (22.7%) cats. Neuroanatomical localization did not correlate with lesion location on MRI in 8 (36.3%) cats. The most common lesion location within the vertebral column was over the C2 and C4 vertebral bodies in 6 (27.2%) and 5 (22.7%) cats, respectively. Peracute clinical signs were observed in 11 (50%) cats, acute in 1 (4.5%), subacute in 4 (18%), and chronic and progressive signs were seen in 6 (40.9%) cats. The most common peracute condition was ischemic myelopathy in 8 (36.3%) cats, whereas neoplasia was the most frequently identified chronic etiology occurring in 5 (22.7%) cats. Outcome was poor in 13 (59%) cats, consisting of 4 of 11 (36.6%) of the peracute cases, 3 of 4 (75%) of the subacute cases, and 6 of 6 of the chronic cases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Central cord syndrome can occur in cats with lesions in the C1-C5 and C6-T2 spinal cord segments. Multiple etiologies can cause CCS, most commonly, ischemic myelopathy and neoplasia. Prognosis depends on the etiology and onset of clinical signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38056077/