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ABSTRACT. A comparison was performed between preoperative ultrasonographic and macroscopic findings for gallbladders and their contents in eleven dogs that were found to have any content in the gallbladder and then underwent cholecystectomy. In addition, correlation was considered between prognosis and age, hematologic analysis, serum biochemical analysis and ultrasonographic findings. Ultrasonographic findings of the gallbladder were classified into 3 patterns: 1) hyperechoic content filling the entire gallbladder and precipitated immobile content, 2) a somewhat thinner hypoechoic area in the exterior layer with a less distinctive border adjacent to the internal hyperechoic area than pattern 3 with moth-eaten or mosaic-form hypoechoic portions scattered within the internal hyperechoic area and 3) a thick hypoechoic area in the exterior layer with a distinctive border adjacent to a prominent internal hyperechoic area. The macroscopic findings of the contents mainly consisted of biliary sludge and concentrated bile in pattern 1, a softer mucous mass in pattern 2 and an elastic mucous mass in pattern 3. Pattern 2 seemed to be in the stage before the kiwi fruit-like pattern that characterizes gallbladder mucocele, suggesting disorder of the gallbladder and bile excretion as well as onset of cholangiohepatitis associated with such disorders. In regard to association with prognosis, the mean ages were 11.8  1.5 years in death cases and 8.4  2.8 years in surviving cases, while the total WBC counts were 46,600  11,912 /L in the death cases and 18,266  9,411 /L in the surviving cases, showing significant differences (p<0.05) in age and total white blood cell count between the two groups.

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Comprehensive Veterinary Clinical Studies,4) Veterinary Pathology, 5) Veterinary Physiology and 6) Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8510, Japan (Received 17 August 2006/Accepted 22 February 2007 ABSTRACT. A 10-year-old female mongrel cat with back pain was brought to the Nihon University Animal Medical Center. Palpation demonstrated a mass in the back region. Radiography revealed partial destruction of the processus spinosus and the arch of the T8 and T9 vertebrae. On magnetic resonance imaging, the mass was found to have compressed the spinal cord and extended to the outside of the spinal canal. We performed extirpation of the mass, and confirmed that it arose from the spinal canal. Histopathologically, the mass was a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. KEY WORDS: feline, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, MRI.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 69(6): 683-686, 2007 There is considerable confusion concerning the nomenclature of tumors deriving from the peripheral nerve sheath. Histologically, such tumors are classified into categories of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (schwannoma and neurofibroma) and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (malignant schwannoma and neurofibrosarcoma) [8].There have been relatively few studies on feline peripheral nerve sheath tumors arising from the spinal canal, and malignant cases of this tumor are even rarer [1,8,9,19]. We encountered a cat with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising from the spinal canal. We evaluated the clinical signs, radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, surgery, and postoperative course.A 10-year-old female mongrel cat, weighing 2.14 kg, with back pain was brought to the Nihon University Animal Medical Center. The cat had been unhealthy with anorexia and constipation for 1 month, and was taken to a local veterinarian. The cat had suffered from back pain for 1 week. A mass was detected in the region of the back, and the cat was referred to our hospital for diagnosis and treatment.On initial examination, the body temperature was 40.3°C, and the heart and respiratory rates were 212/min and 40/ min, respectively. Hematological examination demonstrated slight increases in liver enzyme levels (alanine aminotransferase, 156 U/L; aspartate aminotransferase, 116 U/ L). Neurologically, the cat could walk, and all postural reactions were within the normal ranges. Spinal reflexes and deep pain were normal in both the thoracic and pelvic limbs. The cranial nerves were normal. Radiography revealed partial destruction of the T8 vertebral processus spinosus on the caudal side, T9 vertebral processus spinosus on the cranial side and T9 vertebral arch, between which hyperlucency was observed (Fig. 1).MRI (FlexArt, Toshiba, Tokyo, 1.5T) demonstrated a mass, measuring about 2.5-3 cm, on the back of the T8-9 vertebrae. T1-weighted imaging (TR=500 msec, TE=15 msec, FA 90°, NAQ 1) of the mas...