Clinicopathologic Features and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in 24 Cats With Histopathologically Confirmed Neurologic Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Crawford, A H; Stoll, A L; Sanchez-Masian, D; Shea, A; Michaels, J; Fraser, A R; Beltran, E

doi:10.1111/jvim.14791

Clinicopathologic Features and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in 24 Cats With Histopathologically Confirmed Neurologic Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Crawford, A H; Stoll, A L; Sanchez-Masian, D; Shea, A; Michaels, J; Fraser, A R; Beltran, E

Authors

A H Crawford

A L Stoll

D Sanchez-Masian

A Shea

J Michaels

A R Fraser

E Beltran

Abstract

Background: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is the most common infectious central nervous system (CNS) disease in the cat and is invariably fatal. Improved means of antemortem diagnosis is required to facilitate clinical decision making. Information regarding the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of neurologic FIP currently is limited, resulting in the need for better descriptions to optimize its use as a diagnostic tool.

Objective: To describe the clinicopathologic features and MRI findings in cases of confirmed neurologic FIP.

Animals: Twenty-four client-owned cats with histopathologic confirmation of neurologic FIP.

Methods: Archived records from 5 institutions were retrospectively reviewed to identify cases with confirmed neurologic FIP that had undergone antemortem MRI of the CNS. Signalment, clinicopathologic, MRI, and histopathologic findings were evaluated.

Results: Three distinct clinical syndromes were identified: T3-L3 myelopathy (3), central vestibular syndrome (7), and multifocal CNS disease (14). Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were detected in all cases, including meningeal contrast enhancement (22), ependymal contrast enhancement (20), ventriculomegaly (20), syringomyelia (17), and foramen magnum herniation (14). Cerebrospinal fluid was analysed in 11 cases; all demonstrated a marked increase in total protein concentration and total nucleated cell count. All 24 cats were euthanized with a median survival time of 14 days (range, 2115) from onset of clinical signs. Histopathologic analysis identified perivascular pyogranulomatous infiltrates, lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, or both affecting the leptomeninges (16), choroid plexuses (16), and periventricular parenchyma (13).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Magnetic resonance imaging is a sensitive means of detecting neurologic FIP, particularly in combination with a compatible signalment, clinical presentation, and CSF analysis.

Citation

Crawford, A. H., Stoll, A. L., Sanchez-Masian, D., Shea, A., Michaels, J., Fraser, A. R., & Beltran, E. (2017). Clinicopathologic Features and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in 24 Cats With Histopathologically Confirmed Neurologic Feline Infectious Peritonitis. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 31(5), 1477-1486. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14791

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Jun 22, 2017
Publication Date	Aug 19, 2017
Deposit Date	Aug 23, 2017
Publicly Available Date	Aug 23, 2017
Journal	JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
Print ISSN	0891-6640
Electronic ISSN	1939-1676
Publisher	Wiley Open Access
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	31
Issue	5
Pages	1477-1486
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14791
Keywords	HYPERINTENSE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID; INVERSION-RECOVERY IMAGES; CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM; DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS; HYDROCEPHALUS; SYRINGOMYELIA; DOGS; DISEASE;
Public URL	https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1390766