Surgery alone or in combination with radiation therapy for treatment of intracranial meningiomas in dogs: 31 cases (1989-2002).
OBJECTIVE
To compare, for dogs with intracranial meningiomas, survival times for dogs treated with surgical resection followed by radiation therapy with survival times for dogs treated with surgery alone.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
31 dogs with intracranial meningiomas.


METHODS
Medical records of dogs with histologic confirmation of an intracranial meningioma were reviewed. For each dog, signalment, clinical signs, tumor location, treatment protocol, and survival time were obtained from the medical record and through follow-up telephone interviews.


RESULTS
Dogs that underwent tumor resection alone and survived > 1 week after surgery had a median survival time of 7 months (range, 0.5 to 22 months). Dogs that underwent tumor resection followed by radiation therapy had a median survival time of 16.5 months (range, 3 to 58 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that in dogs with intracranial meningiomas, use of radiation therapy as a supplement to tumor resection can significantly extend life expectancy.
Axlund
Todd W
TW
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
McGlasson
Matt L
ML
Smith
Annette N
AN
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome