Dandy Walker-like malformation in an adult cat with seizures: clinical description and MRI characteristics

Abstract

A 2-year-old male neutered domestic short hair cat was referred for investigations of a ten-month history of self-limiting, generalised tonic-clonic seizures. The cat was reported to be normal interictally but had always a static abnormal gait. General physical examination was unremarkable. Neuroanatomical localisation was compatible with a diffuse cerebellar and diffuse forebrain lesion. Complete blood count, biochemistry, bile acid stimulation test, urinalysis, cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, Toxoplasma Gondi serology and Toxoplasma Gondi polymerase chain reaction in CSF were all unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an abnormal caudal fossa, absent cerebellar vermis and small cerebellar hemisphere with distension of the fourth ventricle. There were no forebrain abnormalities identified in the MRI or CSF changes that could justify the seizures. Considering the clinical presentation, cat’s neurological examination and MRI features, a presumptive diagnosis of Dandy Walker-like malformation (DWLM) and epilepsy of unknown aetiology was made.