Radiation therapy
for meningioma
in pets — Florida.

The most treatable
brain tumor in veterinary oncology — with radiation.

Meningioma arises from the meninges — the membranes enveloping the brain and spinal cord. It grows slowly and remains well-defined, which makes it ideal for stereotactic radiation. In cats, it is the most common intracranial tumor. In dogs, it typically occurs in older, large-breed animals and grows along the brain's surface.

Common presenting signs include seizures, behavioral changes, circling, head pressing, loss of coordination, and vision changes. Because the skull limits expansion, even a slowly growing tumor eventually compresses surrounding brain tissue — producing symptoms that escalate quickly once they begin.

Why SRS/SRT outperforms surgery alone

Surgical resection of meningioma carries significant recurrence risk — most tumors return within 6–12 months after surgery alone. Stereotactic radiation (SRS/SRT) targets the entire tumor volume with ablative precision, eliminating the microscopic cells that surgery misses. Post-surgical SRS/SRT is also highly effective when resection is incomplete. Studies consistently show median survivals of 24 months or longer in cats treated with RT.

What imaging is required before treatment

MRI is the gold standard for meningioma diagnosis and treatment planning — it defines tumor boundaries, location relative to critical structures, and degree of brain compression. CT may also be used for radiation planning. Dr. DiBernardi reviews all imaging personally before designing each treatment plan, selecting between SRS/SRT and CFRT based on tumor size, location, and clinical picture.