Okonji Samuel, Rossi Federica, Sabattini Silvia, Baroni Massimo, Poli Federica, Zaccone Riccardo, Perfetti Simone, Gandini Gualtiero, Marconato Laura
Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Anicura Clinica Veterinaria dell'Orologio, Bologna, Italy.
Vet Med Sci. 2025 Jul;11(4):e70441. doi: 10.1002/vms3.70441.
Brain metastases (BM) represent an unmet medical need in human medicine, and they are poorly documented in dogs. The aim of this multi-centre retrospective study was to report the clinical characteristics, primary solid cancer histology, advanced imaging findings, treatment modalities and potential prognostic factors in dogs with presumed BM that occurred either at the time of initial diagnosis or during follow-up. BM diagnosis was established through either imaging studies or histologic examination of specimens obtained during necropsy. A total of 58 client-owned dogs with histologically proven solid cancer and BM were included. Clinicopathologic variables, BM characteristics based on imaging and survival post-BM (SPBM) were recorded. Haemangiosarcoma (53.4%) and carcinoma (27.6%) were the most common primary tumour histotypes, followed by melanoma (12.1%) and undifferentiated sarcoma (6.9%). Synchronous BM and solitary BM occurred in 63.8% and 51.7% of dogs, respectively. The prosencephalus was most commonly affected, with 79% of dogs showing neurologic deficits. Antitumoural or palliative treatment was attempted in a minority of dogs, with no improved outcome. The median SPBM was 3 days (range, 1-255). The 3- and 6-month survival rates were 8.6% and 1.7%, respectively. Dogs with haemangiosarcoma (OR: 7.6; 95% CI, 2.2-25.8; p = 0.001) and those with distant metastases at presentation (OR: 16; 95% CI, 4.2-60.9; p < 0.001) had an increased likelihood of developing synchronous BM. Haemangiosarcoma and carcinoma were the tumours most frequently associated with BM, which were more commonly synchronous and symptomatic, with a high incidence of forebrain localization. The prognosis was poor, regardless of the primary cancer type.
脑转移瘤（BM）是人类医学中尚未满足的医疗需求，而在犬类中相关记录较少。这项多中心回顾性研究的目的是报告初诊时或随访期间发生疑似BM的犬的临床特征、原发性实体癌组织学、高级影像学检查结果、治疗方式和潜在预后因素。通过影像学研究或尸检时获取的标本组织学检查来确诊BM。总共纳入了58只经组织学证实患有实体癌和BM的宠物犬。记录了临床病理变量、基于影像学的BM特征以及BM后的生存期（SPBM）。血管肉瘤（53.4%）和癌（27.6%）是最常见的原发性肿瘤组织类型，其次是黑色素瘤（12.1%）和未分化肉瘤（6.9%）。分别有63.8%和51.7%的犬发生了同步性BM和孤立性BM。前脑最常受累，79%的犬表现出神经功能缺损。少数犬尝试了抗肿瘤或姑息治疗，但预后未改善。SPBM的中位数为3天（范围1 - 255天）。3个月和6个月的生存率分别为8.6%和1.7%。患有血管肉瘤的犬（比值比：7.6；95%置信区间，2.2 - 25.8；p = 0.001）以及初诊时伴有远处转移的犬（比值比：16；95%置信区间，4.2 - 60.9；p < 0.001）发生同步性BM的可能性增加。血管肉瘤和癌是与BM最常相关的肿瘤，它们更常为同步性且有症状，前脑定位的发生率较高。无论原发性癌症类型如何，预后均较差。
