Nonlymphoid vertebral canal tumors in cats: 11 cases (1987-1995).

To determine outcome of cats with nonlymphoid tumors of the vertebral canal that undergo surgery. Retrospective study. 11 cats. Information obtained from the medical records included signalment, tumor location, gross evaluation of completeness of surgical excision, histologic diagnosis, and survival time. Median age of cats was 12 years: all cats had negative FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus test results. All cats underwent a hemilaminectomy or dorsal laminectomy. The tumor was located in the thoracic portion of the vertebral column in 6 cats. Six cats had intradural-extramedullary tumors. Tumors included meningioma (n = 5), malignant nerve sheath tumors (2), and meningeal sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, lipoma, and osteosarcoma (1 each). One cat was lost to follow-up, 1 cat with meningioma was alive 1,400 days after surgery, and 1 cat with a nerve sheath tumor was alive 2,190 days after surgery. Median survival time for the other 4 cats with meningioma was 180 days (range, 30 to 600 days). Cats with nonlymphoid vertebral canal tumors that undergo surgery may have a good prognosis.