Surgical approach for tentorial meningiomas in cats: a review of six cases

The surgical technique for removal of tentorial meningiomas is described on six cats using a unilateral temporal supracerebellar transtentorial approach. Complete gross tumour resection was achieved in four of six cats. In one cat, only subtotal resection was achieved. One cat died shortly after surgery because of extensive cerebral haemorrhage. The surgical approach, combined with cisternal or ventricular cerebrospinal fluid puncture and an open-window technique (tumour fenestration and enucleation) provided sufficient visibility and tumour accessibility without excessive manipulation of the brain parenchyma. In all patients, a postoperative transient worsening of the clinical signs was observed. The neurological signs resolved with time with the exception of blindness in two cats. All five surviving cats were monitored for a mean follow-up time of 19 months (median 20 months; range 6-30 months). All patients died or were euthanased because of tumour regrowth within the follow-up period. Although challenging, surgical treatment is a useful therapeutic measure in the treatment of cats presenting with tentorial meningiomas.