Minimally invasive spinal surgery in a young cat with vertebral hypertrophy

Abstract

Case summary A 2-year-old neutered female Scottish Fold cat was presented with an 8-week history of progressive back pain, paraparesis and decrease of postural reactions in both pelvic limbs. MRI showed spinal cord compression from both ventral sides, which originated from the T4 vertebral body and pedicle. The lesion compressing the spinal cord had a bone-like density on CT, and endoscopic surgery was performed to excise it. Histopathological examination of the resected tissue showed no evidence of malignancy and the lesion was diagnosed as vertebral hypertrophy. After surgery, the neurological status of the cat gradually improved. The cat was ambulant at the follow-up evaluation 2 weeks after surgery. Six months later, hindlimb paresis had improved considerably, and no recurrence was observed on CT. Relevance and novel information This is the first description of thoracic vertebral canal stenosis due to hypertrophy of a single vertebra in a young cat. Excision of the hypertrophic vertebra by endoscopic surgery is less invasive than open surgery and may give a good prognosis.

Result of Human-induced Hybridization--Cat Born with Genetic Defect

“…This article enters into an in-depth analysis of a specific case. A 2-year-old female neutered Scottish Fold cat presented with progressive gait abnormalities in both hindlimbs [2]. At just two years old, an age that should symbolize the height of youth and vitality in a feline life, this cat found herself beleaguered by osteochondrodysplasia-a debilitating condition far removed from what one would expect at such a young age.…”

Demographics, clinical findings and diagnoses of cranial thoracic myelopathies (T1–T6 vertebrae) in cats

“…2,3 However, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic and vascular disorders are also observed in this region and reported to be more common causes of spinal cord disease in cats in general. 1,2,4 Intervertebral disc herniation is reported to be more common in the lumbar region of cats, 5,6 and reports of disorders affecting the thoracic spinal cord in cats are currently limited to case reports and small case series, such as articular process hypertrophy resulting in vertebral canal stenosis, [7][8][9][10] vertebral hyperostosis, 11 intervertebral disc protrusion (IVDP), 12,13 subarachnoid diverticulum 14 and different types of neoplasia. 15,16 A recent publication described the signalment, clinical presentation and differential diagnoses of cranial thoracic myelopathies (between the T1 and T6 vertebrae) in dogs; 17 however, to the authors' knowledge, there is still a lack of information on myelopathies affecting this region in cats.…”

“… 2 , 3 However, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic and vascular disorders are also observed in this region and reported to be more common causes of spinal cord disease in cats in general. 1 , 2 , 4 Intervertebral disc herniation is reported to be more common in the lumbar region of cats, 5 , 6 and reports of disorders affecting the thoracic spinal cord in cats are currently limited to case reports and small case series, such as articular process hypertrophy resulting in vertebral canal stenosis, 7 – 10 vertebral hyperostosis, 11 intervertebral disc protrusion (IVDP), 12 , 13 subarachnoid diverticulum 14 and different types of neoplasia. 15 , 16 …”