Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI shows hippocampal necrosis in cats with seizures and behavior
By Schmied, Oliver et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2008·Department of Small Animal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetic resonance imaging of feline hippocampal necrosis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Four cats experienced sudden seizures and unusual behavior, such as aggression and confusion, due to a serious brain condition affecting the hippocampus. Despite normal blood tests, MRI scans revealed damage in the brain areas responsible for memory and emotion. Unfortunately, two of the cats were euthanized shortly after treatment with anti-seizure medications failed, while the other two lived for about four months before being euthanized due to ongoing symptoms. The exact cause of this brain damage remains unknown, and it appears to be a rare condition in cats.
People also search for: cat seizures causes · feline brain disease symptoms · cat aggression and confusion · treatment for cat seizures · necrotizing encephalitis in cats
Abstract
The clinical, neuropathologic, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features in four cats with necrosis of the hippocampus and piriform lobe are described. All cats had acute generalized seizures and behavioral changes including aggression, salivation, polyphagia, and disorientation. Routine hematologic, serum chemistry, and cerebrospinal fluid analyses were normal. MR imaging abnormalities were restricted to the area of the hippocampus and piriform lobe. The lesions were T2-hyperintense, T1-hypointense, and were characterized by various degrees of contrast enhancement. Lesions were consistent with necrotizing encephalitis. Two cats were euthanized and underwent postmortem examination within a week after MR imaging due to the lack of response to antiepileptic drug therapy and progressive encephalopathy [corrected] The remaining two cats lived for about four months and were then euthanized because of persistent behavioral and neurologic signs; only one of these cats underwent postmortem examination with histopathologic examination. Histopathological findings were typical of severe, diffuse, bilateral symmetric necrosis, and degeneration of neurons in the hippocampus and piriform lobe, but an etiologic agent was not apparent. This apparently unique feline syndrome, now reported in Switzerland and Italy, has no known cause at this time.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18720764/