Meningioma in dog

Re: Meningioma in dog

J Monz — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:03:36 GMT

Thanks Mark, I have sent you a PM for your sins!

Re: Meningioma in dog

Mark Lowrie — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:30:47 GMT

Hi Justine,

I am sorry you are still having concerns with your dog and the seizures. I am unaware of a link with pain in the long bones and the diagnosis of intracranial meningiomas. I would also be surprised if your dog had an intracranial tumour given that the problem has been going on for sometime. Most dogs with brain tumours get rapidly worse over just a few months and show VERY abnormal behaviour in-between the seizures. It sounds as if your dog is fairly normal in-between the seizures once the post-ictal period has ended making an intracranial cause less likely.

The prognosis with a meningioma is variable depending on its size and location. If surgery was an option following an MRI scan I would personally chose to follow this up with radiotherapy which I understand would be difficult for you given your location. Therefore Alex’s suggestion would probably be more practical for you.

And don’t be too dismissive of idiopathic epilepsy. I absolutely agree there will be a cause for the seizures but the word idiopathic simply means we have been unable to identify that cause after extensive testing including MRI. The vast majority (>95%) of dogs that have their first seizure between 6 months and 6 years of age and are otherwise normal in-between have idiopathic epilepsy. I assure you, although frustrating, this would be the best outcome for your dog if this was the ultimate diagnosis.

Good luck!

Re: Meningioma in dog

J Monz — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:40:09 GMT

[quote user="alex gough"]

BTW - meningioma would be uncommon this young and hydrocephalus uncommon this old. Hydrocephalus can be succesfully treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

[/quote]

Fantastic, great to hear that meningioma is uncommon in his age. Hydrocephalus was suggested as his head is small compared to his body. Always was, and I thought it might catch up when he reached an adult but hasn't. Just an observation. He is on glycerine to reduce the intracranial pressure in case the underlying cause is hydrocephalus.

Will definitely look into the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Yep heartbreaking stuff, but def light at end of tunnel!!

Thanks very much.

Re: Meningioma in dog

Alex Gough — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:28:39 GMT

BTW - meningioma would be uncommon this young and hydrocephalus uncommon this old. Hydrocephalus can be succesfully treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

Re: Meningioma in dog

Alex Gough — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:27:18 GMT

Sympathies too.

MRI is better than CT for looking for brain tumours. Meningiomas in dogs are more invasive than cats, so surgery is feasible but there is a tendency to recur. Chemotherapy with hydroxyurea and palliative prednisolone can lead to extended survival times, I have had some going for quite a few months, although the evidence base for this isn't strong. Surgery with follow up radiotherapy would probably give the longest survival times. The increasing seizures may be due to honeymoon effect of Keppra, but may be worsening underlying condition. Mark Lowrie might comment further - he often comments on the neuro cases here.

Good luck

Alex

Re: Meningioma in dog

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:21:25 GMT

Just sympathy and good luck It's horrible when you feel helpless with your own animal

Wynne