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Background Gliomas in dogs remain poorly understood. Objectives To characterize the clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic imaging features and survival of a large sample of dogs with glioma using the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium diagnostic classification. Animals Ninety‐one dogs with histopathological diagnosis of glioma. Methods Multicentric retrospective case series. Signalment, clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic imaging characteristics, treatment, and outcome were used. Tumors were reclassified according to the new canine glioma diagnostic scheme. Results No associations were found between clinicopathologic findings or survival and tumor type or grade. However, definitive treatments provided significantly (P = .03) improved median survival time (84 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 45‐190) compared to palliative treatment (26 days; 95% CI, 11‐54). On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), oligodendrogliomas were associated with smooth margins and T1‐weighted hypointensity compared to astrocytomas (odds ratio [OR], 42.5; 95% CI, 2.42‐744.97; P = .04; OR, 45.5; 95% CI, 5.78‐333.33; P < .001, respectively) and undefined gliomas (OR, 84; 95% CI, 3.43‐999.99; P = .02; OR, 32.3; 95% CI, 2.51‐500.00; P = .008, respectively) and were more commonly in contact with the ventricles than astrocytomas (OR, 7.47; 95% CI, 1.03‐53.95; P = .049). Tumor spread to neighboring brain structures was associated with high‐grade glioma (OR, 6.02; 95% CI, 1.06‐34.48; P = .04). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with gliomas have poor outcomes, but risk factors identified in survival analysis inform prognosis and the newly identified MRI characteristics could refine diagnosis of tumor type and grade.

Background Limited recent data exists regarding discospondylitis in dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives (i) Describe the signalment, clinical and imaging findings, etiologic agents, treatment, and outcome of dogs with discospondylitis, (ii) determine diagnostic agreement between radiographs, CT, and MRI with regard to the presence of discospondylitis and its location, and (iii) determine risk factors for relapse and progressive neurological deterioration. Animals Three hundred eighty‐six dogs. Methods Multi‐institutional retrospective study. Data extracted from medical records were: signalment, clinical and examination findings, diagnostic results, treatments, complications, and outcome. Potential risk factors were recorded. Breed distribution was compared to a control group. Agreement between imaging modalities was assessed via Cohen's kappa statistic. Other analyses were performed on categorical data, using cross tabulations with chi‐squared and Fisher's exact tests. Results Male dogs were overrepresented (236/386 dogs). L7‐S1 (97/386 dogs) was the most common site. Staphylococcus species (23/38 positive blood cultures) were prevalent. There was a fair agreement (κ = 0.22) between radiographs and CT, but a poor agreement (κ = 0.05) between radiographs and MRI with regard to evidence of discospondylitis. There was good agreement between imaging modalities regarding location of disease. Trauma was associated with an increased risk of relapse (P = .01, OR: 9.0, 95% CI: 2.2‐37.0). Prior steroid therapy was associated with an increased risk of progressive neurological dysfunction (P = .04, OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.2‐18.6). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Radiograph and MRI results could be discrepant in dogs with discospondylitis. Prior trauma and corticosteroids could be associated with relapse and progressive neurological dysfunction, respectively.

Liquid biopsy has proven valuable in identifying individual genetic alterations; however, the ability of plasma ctDNA to capture complex tumor phenotypes with clinical value is unknown. To address this question, we have performed 0.5X shallow whole-genome sequencing in plasma from 459 patients with metastatic breast cancer, including 245 patients treated with endocrine therapy and a CDK4/6 inhibitor (ET + CDK4/6i) from 2 independent cohorts. We demonstrate that machine learning multi-gene signatures, obtained from ctDNA, identify complex biological features, including measures of tumor proliferation and estrogen receptor signaling, similar to what is accomplished using direct tumor tissue DNA or RNA profiling. More importantly, 4 DNA-based subtypes, and a ctDNA-based genomic signature tracking retinoblastoma loss-of-heterozygosity, are significantly associated with poor response and survival outcome following ET + CDK4/6i, independently of plasma tumor fraction. Our approach opens opportunities for the discovery of additional multi-feature genomic predictors coming from ctDNA in breast cancer and other cancer-types. Plasma ctDNA is a promising method to determine patient outcome in multiple cancer types. Here, the authors use shallow WGS to create machine learning signatures to identify tumor phenotypes and predict therapy response in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

[...]liberally comparing outcomes and survival after radiotherapy in dogs with unconfirmed glioma with surgery in histologically confirmed cases 5 is not accurate and could mislead readers. By contrast, a subsequently published study including 33 gliomas, all treated with surgical resection and immunotherapy, identified astrocytomas and low-grade tumors were associated with increased survival. 8 Whereas the latter study findings result from univariable analysis ours resulted from univariable followed by multivariable Cox proportional hazard modeling. [...]differences between both studies' findings might be attributable to methodology of statistical analysis and lack of homogeneity of treatment modalities. [...]evidence based on larger case numbers and multivariable statistical analysis is necessary to confirm any association between glioma type or grade and prognosis in dogs. [...]we take this opportunity once again to invite researchers to contribute to the creation of a mutually accessible international multicenter database to better enable evidence-based research in the field of canine glioma.

Background A head turn is a clinically relevant abnormality identified on neurological examination and historically has been an isolated or concomitant sign of ipsilateral forebrain dysfunction. Experimental studies in quadrupedal mammals suggest that changes in head posture may be identified as originating in other parts of the central nervous system (CNS). Objectives To identify whether other locations within the CNS could give rise to a head turn and whether the head turn identified is isolated or concomitant with other deviations in head and body posture. Animals Forty‐nine client‐owned dogs with a presentation of a head turn, from 6 veterinary referral centers. Methods Multicenter observational prospective study including dogs with photographic evidence of a head turn, full neurological examination, and advanced imaging. Results Of the population, 15/49 had head turn only, 9/49 had head turn and head tilt only, 12/49 had head turn and body turn only, and 13/49 had head turn, head tilt, and body turn. Nearly all dogs with forebrain disease (23/24), and, all with brainstem and cerebellar disease, had an ipsilateral head turn and body turn (if present). In the cerebellar group, all head tilts were contralateral to the lesion location. In the cervical spinal cord group, all head turns, body turns and head tilts were contralateral to the lesion location. Conclusion A head turn, although most likely associated with, is not exclusively seen with forebrain disease. Certain combinations of head turn, head tilt and body turn suggest a neurolocalization other than the forebrain, with appropriate classification needed.

A 9-year-old male neutered domestic longhair cat was presented with a 3 week history of lethargy and pain of unknown origin. A large extra-axial mass was demonstrated on MRI of the head, with cribriform plate destruction, extensive nasal invasion and intracranial expansion, producing a severe mass effect. The mass was isointense on T1-weighted imaging, predominantly hypointense with some hyperintense areas on T2-weighted imaging and fluid attenuation inversion recovery, markedly contrast enhancing, and caused transtentorial and cerebellar herniation. Histopathological evaluation confirmed a transitional (mixed) meningioma. To our knowledge this is the first report of a meningioma with extensive nasal involvement in a cat. Based on this case, meningioma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for tumours involving the nasal cavity and frontal lobe with cribriform plate destruction.

A 12-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented to our referral hospital with a chronic history of tenesmus and lumbosacral pain. A diagnosis of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS) was made and a standard dorsal L7–S1 laminectomy was performed uneventfully, with complete recovery within 1 month. The cat was brought back 4 months later for investigation of lumbosacral pain after having suffered a minor traumatic event. Neurological examination identified a low tail carriage, weakness, exercise intolerance, left pelvic limb lameness and diminished withdrawal reflexes in both pelvic limbs with severe sacrocaudal pain. A traumatic facet fracture of the L7 articular processes and subsequent spondylolisthesis was diagnosed. A second surgery was performed to stabilise the region. The cat was normal on neurological examination 1 month later and no further clinical signs were noted. This is the first description of a fracture and spondylolisthesis as a possible postoperative complication after L7–S1 dorsal laminectomy in a cat. The case highlights the importance of postoperative changes in the supportive structures of the lumbosacral spine in cats after surgical treatment of DLSS.

Background Large-artery intracranial atherosclerosis may be the most frequent cause of ischemic stroke worldwide. Traditional approaches have attempted to target the disease when it is already symptomatic. However, early detection of intracranial atherosclerosis may allow therapeutic intervention while the disease is still asymptomatic. The prevalence and natural history of asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis in Caucasians remain unclear. The aims of the Barcelona- AS ymptomatic I ntracranial A therosclerosis (ASIA) study are (1) to determine the prevalence of ASIA in a moderate-high vascular risk population, (2) to study its prognostic impact on the risk of suffering future major ischemic events, and (3) to identify predictors of the development, progression and clinical expression of this condition. Methods/Design Cross-over and cohort, population-based study. A randomly selected representative sample of 1,503 subjects with a mild-moderate-high vascular risk (as defined by a REGICOR score ≥ 5%) and with neither a history of cerebrovascular nor ischemic heart disease will be studied. At baseline, all individuals will undergo extracranial and transcranial Color-Coded Duplex (TCCD) ultrasound examinations to detect presence and severity of extra and intracranial atherosclerosis. Intracranial stenoses will be assessed by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Clinical and demographic variables will be recorded and blood samples will be drawn to investigate clinical, biological and genetic factors associated with the presence of ASIA. A long-term clinical and sonographic follow-up will be conducted thereafter to identify predictors of disease progression and of incident vascular events. Discussion The Barcelona-ASIA is a population-based study aiming to evaluate the prevalence and clinical importance of asymptomatic intracranial large-artery atherosclerosis in Caucasians. The ASIA project may provide a unique scientific resource to better understand the dynamics of intracranial atherosclerosis from its early stages and to identify new potential therapeutic targets for this condition.

Fanconi anemia (FA) patients display an exacerbated risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant lesions (OPMLs) at early ages. As patients have defects in their DNA repair mechanisms, standard-of-care treatments for OSCC such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, give rise to severe toxicities. New methods for early diagnosis are urgently needed to allow for treatment in early disease stages and achieve better clinical outcomes. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study wherein liquid biopsies from sixteen patients with no clinical diagnoses of OPML and/or OSCC were analyzed for the presence of mutations in cancer genes. The DNA from saliva and plasma were sequentially collected and deep-sequenced, and the clinical evaluation followed over a median time of approximately 2 years. In 9/16 FA patients, we detected mutations in cancer genes (mainly TP53) with minor allele frequencies (MAF) of down to 0.07%. Importantly, all patients that had mutations and clinical follow-up data after mutation detection (n = 6) developed oral precursor lesions or OSCC. The lead-time between mutation detection and tumor diagnosis ranged from 23 to 630 days. Strikingly, FA patients without mutations displayed a significantly lower risk of developing precursor lesions or OSCCs. Therefore, our diagnostic approach could help to stratify FA patients into risk groups, which would allow for closer surveillance for OSCCs or precursor lesions.

Brain gliomas are common tumours diagnosed in dogs. However, limited information is available on the clinical features and overall survival time (OS) in dogs receiving palliative treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible associations between presenting complaint, tumour localisation, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) features, survival times, and reason for the death of dogs with suspected intracranial glioma treated palliatively. Sixty dogs from a single institution were retrospectively included (from September 2017 to December 2021). Dogs were included if a presumptive diagnosis of brain glioma was obtained based on an MRI scan and medical history. French Bulldogs were overrepresented (40/60); 46 out of 60 dogs (77%) presented due to epileptic seizures (ES) and in 25/60 dogs (42%), cluster seizures or status epilepticus were the first manifestation of the disease. Dogs with suspected gliomas located in the piriform lobe showed a higher probability of presenting due to epilepsy compared to dogs with glioma in other regions, and more frequently died or were euthanised because of increased ES. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) features differed between localisations. Fronto-olfactory tumours were more frequently, whereas piriform tumours were less frequently, classified as suspected high-grade glioma. The median survival time was 61 days. Dogs with contrast-enhancing suspected gliomas had significantly shorter OS. This study provides additional information on the clinical features and survival of dogs with suspected brain gliomas treated palliatively.