Tumors affecting the spinal cord of cats: 85 cases (1980-2005).
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of lymphosarcoma and other tumors affecting the spinal cord of cats and to relate specific types of tumors with signalment, history, and clinical findings.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
85 cats with tumors affecting the spinal cord.


METHODS
Medical records of cats with histologically confirmed primary or metastatic tumors of the spinal cord or tumors causing spinal cord disease by local extension from adjacent tissues examined between 1980 and 2005 were reviewed. Data on signalment; clinical history; results of neurologic examination, diagnostic imaging, and clinical pathologic evaluation; and location of tumor within the spinal cord were obtained from medical records and analyzed by use of logistic regression models.


RESULTS
Lymphosarcoma was the most common tumor and affected the spinal cord in 33 (38.8%) cats, followed by osteosarcoma in 14 (16.5%) cats. Cats with lymphosarcoma were typically younger at initial examination, had a shorter duration of clinical signs, and had lesions in more regions of the CNS than did cats with other types of tumors. In 22 of 26 (84.6%) cats with lymphosarcoma, the tumor was also found in extraneural sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Data for spinal cord tumors in this population of cats were analyzed by logistic regression analysis, which effectively distinguished cats with lymphosarcoma from cats with other types of tumors. Additional clinical information reported here will help to increase the index of suspicion or definitive antemortem diagnosis of spinal cord tumors of cats.
Marioni-Henry
Katia
K
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
Van Winkle
Thomas J
TJ
Smith
Sionagh H
SH
Vite
Charles H
CH
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D016015:Logistic Models; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*