Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with cerebellum tumor causing unsteady walking and tiredness
By Imlau, Michelle et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2022·University College Dublin·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2.5-year-old cat was brought in because she was becoming unsteady on her feet and seemed more tired than usual. An MRI showed that her brain was swollen, particularly in the area that controls movement. Sadly, after she passed away, a postmortem exam confirmed the presence of a rare brain tumor called dysplastic gangliocytoma. This type of tumor can be linked to genetic issues in humans, but the exact cause in this cat wasn't determined. Unfortunately, there was no treatment that could save her, but the findings may help other pets in the future.
People also search for: cat ataxia causes · brain tumor in cats · cat lethargy and unsteadiness
Abstract
A 2.5-year-old cat presented with progressive ataxia and lethargy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed enlargement of the cerebellum and herniation of cerebellar vermis. Postmortem examination confirmed the MRI findings, and histopathology showed numerous large dysplastic neurons populating and displacing the Purkinje cell layer and extending into the molecular and granular layers of the cerebellum. The lesion was diagnosed as dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum. In humans, this tumor is often associated with Cowden syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by multiple hamartomas and an increased risk of developing certain neoplasms, known to be linked to a germline mutation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog () gene. Reduction in PTEN nuclear and cytoplasmic immunohistochemical labeling of dysplastic neurons in this case suggested a possiblemutation involved in the tumorigenesis. This report provides a detailed pathology description of the tumor and the use of neuronal and PTEN markers which will help guide pathologists presented with this rare condition in the future.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35130805/