Feline Hippocampal Necrosis and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: A review of current literature and definitions.

FHN is a common histopathological endpoint with multiple etiologies; autoimmune causes warrant investigation.

Feline Hippocampal Necrosis (FHN) is a histopathological diagnosis characterized by marked neuronal necrosis primarily affecting the hippocampus in domestic cats. First identified 25 years ago, FHN is frequently confused with the related condition Hippocampal Sclerosis (HS). Rather than representing a single disease entity, FHN represents a common pathological endpoint resulting from multiple underlying etiologies including neoplasia, vascular disease, and autoimmune conditions. Recent research has highlighted the significance of autoimmune-mediated limbic encephalitis, particularly cases associated with autoantibodies against leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) protein. Clinical presentation typically manifests as temporal lobe epilepsy with characteristic seizure patterns. This comprehensive review examines the histopathological features distinguishing FHN from HS, catalogues various disease presentations and underlying causes, discusses imaging findings relevant to diagnosis, and synthesizes current treatment approaches and clinical outcomes in affected felines.

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