Intracranial meningioma in a nine year old domestic shorthaired cat

Abstract

A 9 year old neutered male domestic shorthaired cat presented for an acute-on-chronic onset of mentation and behavior changes, including acting dazed, stargazing for long periods of time, and sleeping with his eyes open. Treatment with Clindamycin for a presumptive Toxoplasmosis infection did not alleviate the neurological signs, and MR imaging of the cat's brain showed a large extra-axial, contrast enhancing mass with a dural tail sign in the occipital lobe. It was determined that the history and imaging findings were most likely consistent with a diagnosis of intracranial meningioma. The patient was stabilized with fluids, Dexamethasone, and Mannitol to relieve peri-tumoral edema and inflammation. A bilateral craniotomy was performed to remove the mass, which as when submitted for histopathology. The intracranial mass was identified as a transitional meningioma. The diagnosis of feline intracranial meningioma carries a good to excellent prognosis with definitive therapy, including surgical excision or radiation therapy. This paper will discuss the diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, prognosis, and histopathology of meningiomas in cats.