Meningioma and associated cerebral infarction in three dogs

Lisa Frank,Laura Burigk,Alexandra Schütter,Annika Lehmbecker,Peter Wohlsein,Jasmin Nessler,Nina Meyerhoff,Andrea Tipold

doi:10.1186/s12917-020-02388-2

Lisa Frank, Laura Burigk + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02388-2

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Abstract

BackgroundIn dogs, meningiomas mostly cause chronic progressive clinical signs due to slow tumor growth.Case presentationIn contrast, three dogs were presented with the history of chronic generalized tonic-clonic seizures and peracute deterioration with sudden onset of neurological deficits in accordance with an extensive unilateral forebrain lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the dogs revealed a well-delineated extraaxial T2W hyperintense mass in the rostral forebrain with homogeneous contrast enhancement. Additionally, an intraaxial, well-demarcated, unilateral lesion was apparent in the parenchyma supplied by the middle cerebral artery. In two cases, necropsy revealed meningothelial meningioma in the rostral fossa and marked eosinophilic neuronal necrosis, a sign of ischemia, focal malacia, edema and gliosis in the temporal lobe and hippocampus because of a focal thrombosis of the middle cerebral artery. In the third case symptomatic treatment resulted in improvement of clinical signs enabling a good quality of life for the patient.ConclusionsIn dogs with structural epilepsy caused by meningioma, acute deterioration of clinical signs can be associated with ischemic infarctions as a potential complication.

Highlights

In dogs, meningiomas mostly cause chronic progressive clinical signs due to slow tumor growth.Case presentation: In contrast, three dogs were presented with the history of chronic generalized tonic-clonic seizures and peracute deterioration with sudden onset of neurological deficits in accordance with an extensive unilateral forebrain lesion
In dogs with structural epilepsy caused by meningioma, acute deterioration of clinical signs can be associated with ischemic infarctions as a potential complication
Ischemic cerebral infarctions are a consequence of end artery closure leading to peracute neurological signs depending on the affected brain region [9, 10]

Summary

Background

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors in dogs [1] and occur more frequently in older dogs [2] and dolichocephalic breeds [3, 4]. Meningiomas mostly cause chronic progressive clinical signs due to slow tumor growth [3, 4, 6,7,8]. Ischemic cerebral infarctions are a consequence of end artery closure leading to peracute neurological signs depending on the affected brain region [9, 10]. In 50% of dogs with ischemic infarctions an underlying disease can be diagnosed [11]. In. In this report meningioma was diagnosed in three dogs. All three dogs suffered from an unusual acute worsening of neurological signs presumably because of associated ischemic cerebral infarction

Materials and methods

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Discussion and conclusions