Dyke-Davidoff-Masson-like syndrome in an adult cat

TL;DR

A 4-year-old cat showed neurological symptoms and brain abnormalities similar to a human syndrome called Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome, which is rare in cats.

Contribution

This case report documents a rare feline case of Dyke-Davidoff-Masson-like syndrome with later onset of clinical signs in an adult.

Findings

The cat exhibited CNS signs and seizures with imaging findings consistent with Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome.

Such changes have been reported only once before in a cat of similar age.

The case highlights the possibility of congenital disorders presenting later in adulthood in cats.

Abstract

A 4-year-old cat was presented with acute onset of lateralised neurological central nervous system (CNS) signs and seizures. Haematological and serum biochemical parameters were within normal limits. Imaging diagnostics revealed severe CT and MRI abnormalities of the right brain, similar to Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome (DDMS) in human medicine. This syndrome includes cerebral hemiatrophy with compensatory calvarial hyperostosis and ventriculomegaly. Such changes have previously been reported only once in a single feline case of approximately the same age. In humans, DDMS is described as an embryonic and perinatal developmental disturbance or an acquired injury in early childhood.

This case report shows that without further imaging diagnostics, congenital disorders can be overlooked in some rare cases of adult cats with later onset of their first clinical signs.

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