Nonlymphoid vertebral canal tumors in cats: 11 cases (1987-1995)

Abstract

Objective - To determine outcome of cats with nonlymphoid tumors of the vertebral canal that undergo surgery. Design - Retrospective study. Animals - 11 cats. Procedure - Information obtained from the medical records included signalment, tumor location, gross evaluation of completeness of surgical excision, histologic diagnosis, and survival time. Results - Median age of cats was 12 years; all cats had negative FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus test results. All cats underwent a hemilaminectomy or dorsal laminectomy. The tumor was located in the thoracic portion of the vertebral column in 6 cats. Six cats had intradural-extramedullary tumors. Tumors included meningioma (n = 5), malignant nerve sheath tumors (2), and meningeal sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, lipoma, and osteosarcoma (1 each). One cat was lost to follow-up, 1 cat with meningioma was alive 1,400 days after surgery, and 1 cat with a nerve sheath tumor was alive 2,190 days after surgery. Median survival time for the other 4 cats with meningioma was 180 days (range, 30 to 600 days). Clinical Implications - Cats with nonlymphoid vertebral canal tumors that undergo surgery may have a good prognosis.