A nine-year-old male, neutered domestic long-haired cat presented with a six-month history of intermittent behavioural changes and reduced mentation.
fig.1 - Transverse T1W post gadolinium MR-scan of brain, showing right-sided, expansile, enhancing, extra-axial mass.
He had recently lost weight, displayed sensitivity when handled around the head and shown pelvic limb ataxia.
Examination revealed poor conscious proprioception, with variable, delayed placing responses in all limbs.
MR-scans (fig. 1) of the brain revealed a large, expansile, extra-axial, variably-enhancing mass, which was compressing the right parietal/ temporal lobes, consistent with a diagnosis of meningioma. There was coning of the cerebellum, indicating increased intracranial pressure. The cat was stabilised on prednisolone 0.5mg /kg q24h P.O. for a week prior to surgery, during which time its demeanour brightened considerably.
fig. 2 - intraoperative photograph showing dead-space from tumour
The mass was removed via a right, lateral, parietal craniotomy (fig. 2).
The resultant void in the cranium was filled with an omental pedicle, to act as a physiological drain.
Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of meningioma.
Over the following 48hrs, the cat’s neurological signs gradually resolved and the cat was discharged three days later. In the four months since surgery, the owners report that the cat had resumed normal hunting activity, and has shown no further signs.
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