Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cerebellar stroke signs in two older female cats
By Cherubini, Giunio Bruto et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2007·The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rostral cerebellar arterial infarct in two cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old domestic shorthair cat and a 6-year-old Siamese cat were brought to the vet after suddenly showing signs of severe coordination problems and rigidity. Both cats had normal physical exams and blood tests, but an MRI revealed a specific type of brain injury called a cerebellar infarct (a stroke in the brain). Unfortunately, the domestic shorthair cat was confirmed to have this condition after a post-mortem exam, which also showed kidney issues and lung cancer. The Siamese cat was found to have heart problems that could lead to similar strokes.
People also search for: cat coordination problems · cat stroke symptoms · Siamese cat heart disease · domestic shorthair cat brain injury
Abstract
A 10-year-old female neutered domestic shorthair (DSH) cat and a 6-year-old female neutered Siamese cat were presented following a peracute onset of decerebellate rigidity and a cerebellar vestibular syndrome, respectively. In both cats, physical examination and routine blood tests were unremarkable, as was routine analysis of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from the DSH cat. Based on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features - focal wedge-shaped lesion in the cerebellum characterised by hyperintensity in T2-weighted, T2( *)-gradient echo and fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images - a presumptive diagnosis of cerebellar infarct was made in both cases. In the DSH cat, the post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of cerebellar infarct and additionally found acute renal infarcts and a pulmonary neoplasia. In the Siamese cat, ultrasonographic evaluation of the heart revealed a probable low-grade chronic valvular endocarditis which was thought to be a potential source of thromboembolism. This paper describes the first two cases - one confirmed and the other suspected - of cerebellar infarct in the cat. The in vivo potential diagnostic value of the MRI study is highlighted. Cerebellar infarcts should be included in the differential diagnosis of cat with a peracute onset of cerebellar signs regardless of the severity of neurological deficits.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17317258/