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Brain tumors in dogs and cats

Although relatively rare, a brain tumor has always made a grim prognosis for any unfortunate animal is diagnosed with one. Traditionally, it is often assumed but seldom confirmed, but as MRI and CT has become more mainstream it can be diagnosed correctly. Here, we discuss the different types of brain tumor that affect dogs and cats, clinical investigations which may be made, available treatments and possible outcomes.

Brain tumors appear to be more common in dogs than cats, and some breeds are represented, including boxers, golden retrievers, Dobermans, Scottish Terriers and Old English Sheepdogs.

Primary or secondary

Brain tumors can be primary or secondary (metastasis from other sites). Primary brain tumors are usually solitary, most common in dogs with gliomas and meningiomas. In cats, the most common types are meningiomas and these may occur in several places.

Secondary tumors in dogs include extension of a nasal tumor, metastases from breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer, angiosarcoma or extension of a pituitary tumor. Tumors of nerve sheath tumors and skull were also reported.

Tumors secondary cats are pituitary tumors, metastatic carcinomas, local extension of nasal tumors, tumors of the head and tumors cavity of the middle ear.

The causes of a brain tumor?

The cause of brain tumors is unknown. Diet, environmental, chemical, immunological genetic, viral, and trauma have been considered. In cats with meningiomas, as they occurs in very young animals, is a genetic element suspects.

Benin vs. malignant

Benign conditions and malignant must be used with caution when it comes to brain tumors. Normally these terms apply to different characteristics at the cellular level, but on a biological level, even benign brain tumors can kill animals because of side effects such as intracranial pressure increased or cerebral edema. In short, any brain tumor can kill.

What are the symptoms?

Can not have a great variety here. Many animals with nonspecific symptoms, such as one or more of the following:

1. The loss habits training
2. Reduced activity levels
3. Decreased frequency of snoring in cats
4. Disorientation
5. Confusion

More specific problems depend on the exact location of the tumor in the brain, tumor size and how fast it grows. As a tumor develops, symptoms tend to be more serious. These may include:

6. Seizures (often indicate a tumor in the cerebral cortex)
7. Facial paralysis (may indicate a brain tumor)
8. Tremors (may indicate a tumor in the cerebellum)
9. Tottering (may indicate a tumor in the cerebellum)
10. The total or partial blindness (may indicate a tumor of the hypothalamus or optic nerve)
11. Loss of smell (may indicate a tumor olfactory system)

The physical presence of the tumor call may cause effects due to inflammation and swelling of the surrounding area. This can cause symptoms such as:

12. Changes in behavior or (temperament, irritability, lethargy)
13. Walking compulsive
14. Circling
15. In pressing his head against a wall or hard surface

Animals can sometimes carry brain tumors for several years before present at a veterinary clinic, if the tumor is slow growing. In these cases, symptoms develop gradually, and the owner tends to get used to them so that when the animal is examined, the tumor has reached critical mass.

How is a tumor brain diagnosed?

History and clinical examination

The first step for a veterinarian is to have a complete history of all clinical signs, and when they developed. It is followed by a general clinical examination and a complete neurological examination.

Bloods

After this blood being taken for routine hematology and biochemistry profiles. He is seeking any disease outside the brain. The results will normal for brain tumors, with the possible exception of some pituitary tumors.

Radiography

Plain radiographs of the skull (radiographs), anesthesia generally have little value in detecting a brain tumor, but may be useful if there is a tumor in the nasal cavity or middle ear which could extend into the skull. In rare cases, may identify changes in bone skull which can accompany a brain tumor, or mineralization within the tumor itself. Radiographs and ultrasound in the chest and abdomen are useful for find tumors in other parts of the body where the tumor is a brain metastasis secondary.

MR and CT

Confirmation of a tumor brain can generally be obtained using techniques of advanced imaging, CT or MRI. Both have their advantages and disadvantages compared with others. CT is better for bony changes, while MRI is better for soft tissue definition, for the detection of many blows on the effects of brain tumors, such as edema, cysts and bleeding. MRI is the preferred option for diagnosing primary brain tumors.

Biopsy

It is the only way to diagnose with certainty a brain tumor. Imaging techniques advanced above offer much information, but can sometimes be confused with a mass or cyst, not cancer, and also tell us the exact type of tumor, and therefore appropriate treatment and prognosis. The best type of biopsy, CT is the guidance system for stereotactic biopsy of the brain that is fast, accurate and very safe.

Because the risk of exploratory surgery is high, usually not treated unless there a reasonable opportunity to remove the whole tumor with minimal collateral damage. Many brain tumors in cats and dogs are not classified in cell to a post-mortem.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Analysis

CSF analysis is useful for eliminating the causes of inflammatory symptoms but tumor cells are rarely identified here. A high white blood cells and higher levels of the protein may be present in CSF with many brain tumors, although not diagnostic. This test may be at high risk when intracranial pressure is increased, such as hernia brain may occur.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at being either curative or palliative. Curative treatment eradicates the tumor or reduce its size, while the palliative therapy reduces the surrounding cerebral edema and slows tumor growth. Palliative therapy also involves the administration of anti-epileptic drugs, if seizures occur as a result of the tumor.

Surgery

If this is an option depends on the health of the animal, and the exact location, size, extension, invasion and the nature of the tumor. Tumors such as meningiomas in cats can be successfully removed by surgery. However, surgical removal of tumors in certain places, such as the brainstem can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. Even partial removal can benefit the animals, but especially if the tumor is slow growing.

Radiotherapy

This is probably the most widely used to treat brain tumors. Radiotherapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments. Also useful in the treatment of secondary brain tumors. The objective is to destroy the tumor without damaging normal tissues as well.

Chemotherapy

The main problem with chemotherapy for brain tumors is that many drugs do not cross the barrier blood-brain barrier. In addition, the tumor may only be sensitive to high doses, doses that are toxic to normal brain tissue and thus therefore unfit to employment. However, several drugs have been used for this purpose that can cross the blood-brain barrier with reported success, including cytarabine, lomustine and carmustine.

Presumably

Studies of patients receiving palliative treatment (corticosteroids) for brain tumors show a survival after diagnosis range from 64 to 307 days. This demonstrates the inability to accurately predict expectancy Life in these cases. The truth is that the increased survival time significantly to surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Radiotherapy appears to offer the best results, alone or in combination with other treatments. In general, more severe symptoms, low expectancy life.

About the Author

Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.



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