Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with brain tumor showing mixed choroid plexus and ependymal
By Donovan, Taryn A et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2025·Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Diagnostic dilemma: Papillary third ventricular neoplasm with concurrent choroid plexus and ependymal features in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old male domestic shorthair cat showed worsening neurological symptoms and was found to have a brain tumor after an MRI. The tumor was located in the third ventricle of the brain, causing pressure on surrounding areas, and unfortunately, the cat was euthanized due to the severity of the condition. The tumor had features that suggested it could be from either ependymal cells or choroid plexus cells, which are both types of brain tissue. This case emphasizes the complexity of brain tumors in cats and the challenges in diagnosing them.
People also search for: cat brain tumor symptoms · cat neurological problems · cat euthanasia due to tumor
Abstract
A 6-year-old, castrated male, domestic shorthair cat with progressive neurologic signs underwent magnetic resonance imaging, revealing a suprasellar mass, which resulted in euthanasia. Grossly, a tan-red tumor expanded the ventral third ventricle, compressed adjacent brain structures, and emerged ventrally at the midline. Histologically, numerous arborizing papillary formations protruded into a network of anastomosing luminal canals. Neoplastic cells immunolabeled for pan-cytokeratin, vimentin, and E-cadherin, and lacked immunolabeling for oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (OLIG2), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Transmission electron microscopy revealed apical microvilli, apical and lateral tight junctions, and a basal membrane. In this cat, the neuroanatomic location with ventral brain invasion was more suggestive of ependymal origin; however, there were overlapping histologic and immunohistochemical features, and ultrastructural features were more consistent with choroid plexus epithelium. Dual ependymal and choroid plexus differentiation could not be excluded. This case highlights species differences in both the occurrence and neurolocalization of intraventricular tumors in domestic animals and comparable features between papillary ependymoma and choroid plexus papilloma.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40105263/