A retrospective study of twenty‐nine spinal tumours in the dog and cat

A retrospective study of pathologically confirmed cases of feline spinal lymphosarcoma (FSL) admitted to the Collages of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia and North Carolina State University from 1 9 7 3 to 1988 was conducted. Two hundred fourteen cases of feline lymphosarcoma were diagnosed histopathologically; involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) was identified in 26 (1 2.1 %). Twenty-three of these tumors involved the spinal cord, and 22 of the 23 were solitary. A predilection for the thoracic and lumbar vertebral canal was noted. Most cats with spinal disease were young, with mean and median ages of 43 and 24 months, respectively; 6 7 cats ymphosarcoma (LSA) is the most common feline neo-

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Feline Spinal Lymphosarcoma: A Retrospective Evaluation of 23 Cats

Lane

Kornegay

Duncan

et al. 1994

“…Spinal cord tumors can be classified based on circumferential location relative to the dura and histopathology. Intramedullary (IM) tumors are least common, with a reported distribution of approximately 15% . Extradural (ED) tumors are reported with an overall distribution of approximately 50% and intradural‐extramedullary (ID‐EM) tumors making up the remaining approximately 35% .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Neoplasia in 53 Dogs (1990–2010): Distribution, Clinicopathologic Characteristics, and Clinical Behavior

Pancotto

Rossmeisl

Zimmerman

et al. 2013

Background: Intramedullary neoplasms of the canine spinal cord are infrequently reported. Objective: To describe distribution, clinicopathologic characteristics, radiographic findings, and clinical features of canine intramedullary spinal tumors.Methods: Retrospective series of histologically confirmed canine intramedullary spinal tumors. Contingency tables were generated for categorical variables (breed, sex, treatment, pain, chief complaint, localization, histology, imaging, and site). Associations were assessed by Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank sum test, t-test, and one-way ANOVA.Results: Intramedullary spinal cord tumors comprised 16% (53/331) of all tumors of the spinal cord. Primary tumors were diagnosed in 66% (35/53) of cases, with neuroepithelial-origin tumors comprising 51% (18/35) of all primary neoplasms. Intraparenchymal metastases of transitional cell carcinoma and hemangiosarcoma accounted for 66% (6/18 each) of all secondary tumors. Primary tumors were more likely to affect younger dogs. Dogs with intramedullary metastases were most commonly presented for primary myelopathic signs (8/18, 44%). The majority of all tumors (52.8%) occurred in the T3-L3 spinal cord segments. All dogs with cervical neurolocalization had primary tumors. Dogs with metastatic lesions had a shorter duration of clinical signs before presentation, but there was no difference in survival time between dogs with primary as compared with secondary tumors.Conclusions: Intramedullary spinal cord tumors are uncommon. Primary intramedullary spinal cord tumors are more common than secondary intramedullary spinal cord tumors and tend to occur in the cervical spinal cord of younger dogs. Intramedullary metastases occur in older dogs, are rarely asymptomatic, and neurologic dysfunction is a common clinical presentation. Dogs with primary tumors may have a protracted clinical course compared with those with intramedullary metastases.

“…Meningioma is the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm affecting the spinal cord of dogs 1–8 . Typically, intraspinal meningiomas cause a chronic, progressive myelopathy with mild to moderate spinal pain 5,9–14 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Canine Intraspinal Meningiomas: Imaging Features, Histopathologic Classification, and Long‐Term Outcome in 34 Dogs

Petersen

Sturges

Dickinson

et al. 2008

Background: Meningioma is the most common primary intraspinal nervous system tumor in dogs. Clinical findings, clinicopathologic data, and treatment of these tumors have been reported sporadically, but little information is available regarding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, histologic tumor grade, or efficacy of radiation therapy as an adjunct to cytoreductive surgery. Animals: Dogs with histologically confirmed intraspinal meningiomas (n = 34). Methods: A retrospective study of dogs with intraspinal meningiomas between 1984 and 2006 was carried out. Signalment, historical information, physical examination, clinicopathologic data, radiation therapy protocols, surgery reports, and all available images were reviewed. All tumors were histologically classified and graded as defined by the international World Health Organization classification scheme for central nervous system tumors. Results: Intraspinal mengiomas in dogs are most common in the cervical spinal cord but can be found throughout the neuraxis. Location is correlated with histologic grade, with grade I tumors more likely to be in the cervical region than grade II tumors. Myelography generally shows an intradural extramedullary compressive lesion. On magnetic resonance imaging, the masses are strongly and uniformly contrast enhancing and a dural tail often is present. CSF analysis usually shows increased protein concentration with mild to moderate mixed pleocytosis. Surgical resection is an effective means of improving neurologic status, and adjunctive radiation therapy may lead to an improved outcome. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Biopsy is necessary for definitive diagnosis, but imaging and CSF analysis can suggest a diagnosis of meningioma. Treatment of meningiomas with surgery and radiation therapy can result in a fair to excellent prognosis.