MENINGIOMAS IN DOGS AND CATS: CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

Meningiomas are the most common primary neoplasms of the central nervous system in dogs and cats, originating from arachnoid cells. Although they exhibit expansive behavior and generally slow growth, their location can result in varied neurological signs, such as seizures, behavioral changes, proprioceptive deficits, and ataxia. In dogs, they are more frequently reported in middle-aged to older animals, often associated with certain breeds, while in cats they predominate in older individuals without a defined predisposition. Macroscopically, they are characterized as firm and well-defined masses, and microscopically they encompass different histological subtypes, classified by the WHO into grades I to III, which influence the prognosis. Understanding the clinicopathological aspects is essential for differential diagnosis and for understanding the impact of these tumors on veterinary neurology.