A 10-year-old domestic longhair cat was presented for acute non-ambulatory tetraparesis. Clinicopathologic diagnostics revealed no abnormalities. Cervical myelogram revealed an extradural compressive lesion consistent with intervertebral disc disease of the C2-C3 intervertebral disc space. Ventral slot decompression confirmed the presence of extruded intervertebral disc material into the vertebral canal of the C2-C3 intervertebral space. The patient succumbed to cardiorespiratory arrest 3 days postoperatively.

LETTERSDermoid sinus and bone defects of the fifth thoracic vertebrae in a shih-tzu MADAMRecently, we encountered a five year old, neutered, male shihtzu presented with an acute onset of ataxia of the pelvic limbs after a tuft of hair, protruding from a dermoid sinus on the dorsal midline of the cranial thoracic region, had been pulled by the groomer. Radiographs showed a defect of the spinous process and the vertebral bodyof T5. The spinous process was found to be separated into two sections forming an opening on the dorsal aspect of the vertebral body. Myelography showed that the dermoid sinus was tethered to the spinal cord, classified as a type IV dermoid sinus. A dorsal approach was performed to remove the dermoid sinus. The sinus was found to exist between a bone defect of the spinous process and the vertebral body of T5. A dorsal laminectomy was also performed at the level of T5. One month postoperatively, the dog was still mildly ataxic with subtle conscious propioceptive deficits in the pelvic limbs. At a telephone interview two months later, the owners reported great improvement in the dog, and no noticeable ataxia.There are many reports in Rhodesian ridgebacks (Mann & Stratton 1996) but a dermoid sinus has been reported only once previously in a shih-tzu (Selcer and others 1984). Reports have shown that neurological signs with dermoid sinuses are most often caused by infection of the sinus with dissemination to the spinal cord or brain (that is, myelitis, encephalitis). We report this case to encourage clinicians to consider this type of trauma to the spinal cord when assessing an animal with a dermoid sinus and neurological signs. Clinicians should educate their clients in exercising caution with pets with a dermoid sinus.

Hurricane Beulah developed near the island of Martinique on Sept. 7, 1967. About 36 hr after development, the hurricane came within range of the San Juan radar and was then followed by radar for about 34 hr 89 it moved westward to the south of Puerto Rico. The variations in the radar configurations of Beulah during that period revealed an interesting feature concerning the evolution of the eye. Initially, the eye consisted of a very small closed ring somewhat isolated from the rest of the precipitation bands. In time, a second eye ring developed just outside the initial one; the hurricane then showed a double eye" similar to what has been observed occasionally in other hurricanes. Later the inner eye ring dissipated, thus completing a cycle of evolution that, to our knowledge, had not been observed before. Photographs of the radarscope depicting the changes are presented and discussed, and the development is compared to previously reported double eyes.

The subject of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is hardly new and yet remains an every day challenge to clinicians, mainly neonatologists and child neurologists. However, technological advances in neuroimaging do help in the diagnosis, but prevention of hypoxic-ischemic insults, ability to change the course of the disease, and treatment of the devastating consequences of HIE are lagging behind. With these issues in mind, we reviewed the literature on this subject and our own clinical experience in search of new developments in this area. The pathology and clinicopathologic correlates of HIE are emphasized as well.