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The wings of the atlas and occipital protuberance are palpated and an imaginary line drawn between the wings of the atlas and the point where this line transects midline

The wings of the atlas and occipital protuberance are palpated and an imaginary line drawn between the wings of the atlas and the point where this line transects midline. observation of the cat in most cases will allow the practitioner to develop a neuroanatomic diagnosis. On the basis of this diagnosis, the veterinarian can generate a reasonable list of differentials and determine appropriate ancillary testing. Detailed descriptions of individual disorders and abnormalities around the neurologic exam are discussed in the following sections. For a detailed description of the neurologic exam, the reader is usually referred toVeterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology, by Dr. A. DeLahunta and Dr. R. Glass (Box 27-1). == BOX 27-1. Additional Resources. == DeLahunta A, Glass R:Veterinary neuroanatomy and clinical neurology,St Louis, 2009, Saunders. Brain tumors in dogs and cats, North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine:http://cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/clinical_services/neuro/brain_tumor.html Comparative neuromuscular laboratory, University or college of California, San Diego:http://vetneuromuscular.ucsd.edu/ == Intracranial Diseases == == Seizure Disorders == Seizure disorders in cats present a significant diagnostic challenge and may result from main intracranial disease or extracranial disease. PR-171 (Carfilzomib) Seizures can be classified as focal, partial, or generalized.34Afocalseizure is one CXCR2 in which there is spontaneous discharge of neurons of the prosencephalon in the absence of clinical indicators and that may be present in the interictal period but is detectable only with use of an electroencephalogram (EEG). Apartialseizure is usually a focal seizure that may be observed clinically and consists of varying degrees of motor or sensory abnormalities in the absence of loss of consciousness. Asimple partialseizure results in abnormal motor activity such as twitching, tremors, limb flexion, ptyalism, facial twitching, and mydriasis with no alteration in sensorium. Acomplex partialseizure may resemble the simple partial seizure, but changes in the mental status are obvious, including maniacal running, staring into space, aggression, and self-inflicted trauma.34Generalized seizures(grand mal) are more easily recognized by pet owners and PR-171 (Carfilzomib) result in loss of consciousness, recumbency, tonicclonic muscle activity in the limbs, chewing movements, ptyalism, mydriasis, and loss of stool and urine. 34The seizure type does not necessarily reflect underlying etiology, 114although seizure pattern in cats is usually reportedly different from that PR-171 (Carfilzomib) of dogs, with complex partial seizures being more common than generalized seizures.109Cluster seizures are defined as more than two seizures in a 24-hour period, whereas status epilepticus (SE) is a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or multiple seizures between which there is no recovery.34Structural brain disease has been identified as the most common cause of seizures in cats and includes meningoencephalitis, feline ischemic encephalopathy, neoplasia, trauma, abscess, and vascular disorders.4,109However,idiopathic epilepsy(defined as recurrent seizures in the absence of an underlying cause) is an important and often overlooked cause of seizures in cats, accounting for 25% of cases in one report of 91 cats.114Cats with idiopathic epilepsy tended to be younger than those with structural brain disease, with a mean age of 3.5 years in two PR-171 (Carfilzomib) publications.114,126Feline hippocampal necrosis should also be considered in the differential diagnosis for any seizuring cat. It is characterized by acute onset seizures and behavioral changes in young to middle-aged cats with poor response to standard anticonvulsant therapy and progressively worsening indicators.40Histopathologic findings include severe, diffuse, bilateral necrosis of neurons in the hippocampus and piriform lobes.40Prognosis is guarded. == Diagnosis == Evaluation of PR-171 (Carfilzomib) affected cats requires a thorough history and neurologic exam, as well as consideration of the breed, age, and vaccine history of the patient. A thorough description of the seizure as well as duration, frequency, and the presence or absence of interictal abnormalities are vital to formulate a diagnostic plan. An initial minimum database should include a complete blood count, chemistry panel, blood pressure measurement, urinalysis, and screening for feline leukemia computer virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency computer virus (FIV). Thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasonography, echocardiography, bile acid assessment, and thyroid screening may all be part of the workup, depending on the results of the physical examination, history, and preliminary testing. If a metabolic or systemic cause is usually ruled out through the preliminary workup,.