Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Intracranial meningioma in dogs and cats: a comparative review.
- Journal:
- Compendium (Yardley, PA)
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Sessums, Kara & Mariani, Christopher
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group · United States
Plain-English summary
Meningiomas are tumors that develop from a layer of tissue around the brain and spinal cord in both dogs and cats. In dogs, the most common sign of these tumors is seizures, while cats may show changes in behavior, vision problems, or difficulty walking. These tumors tend to grow slowly, and in dogs, they are more likely to be cancerous. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to target the tumor, while steroids and medications for seizures help manage symptoms. For cats, surgery is usually the best option since the tumor can often be completely removed, and if it can't be fully taken out, radiation therapy can help them live longer.
Abstract
Meningiomas are extraaxial tumors that arise from the arachnoid layer of the meninges. Seizures are the most common clinical sign in dogs; cats more often present with mentation changes, vision loss, and gait abnormalities. Meningiomas in both species grow slowly and have an insidious onset of clinical signs. These tumors are more likely to be malignant in dogs. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can target the primary tumor, whereas steroids and anticonvulsants are confined to treating secondary effects of the tumor. Surgery is the preferred primary option for cats because the tumor can be excised completely in most cases. If the meningioma cannot be resected in its entirety, radiation therapy can increase survival time.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19746352/