The clinical and radiological features associated with spinal tumours in thirty dogs

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.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 49%

“…Fifty‐six intramedullary spinal cord tumors have been reported in the veterinary literature . Primary tumors were documented in 41 cases and secondary tumors in 15 cases . The mean age, recorded for 49/55 cases, was 4.7 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Pancotto

Rossmeisl

Zimmerman

et al. 2013

“…Analysis of previous cases and those included in the present report provides interesting comparisons. Boxers were the breed most overrepresented in this study and were the most frequently affected breed in previous studies (4 of the 36 cases for which breed was reported) 5,7,9–12,14–19,33,35,36,39,40 . This may be a reflection of breed popularity or may represent the propensity of this breed to develop neoplasms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

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.

“…4 METASTASIS IN THE DOG 209 then 1.0 mg/kg every other day for 14 days, and finally 0.5 mg/kg every other day). Eighteen days after discharge, the owner reported the dog was ambulatory, but had regressed when prednisone was decreased to 1 .O mg/kg every other day. Prednisone dose was increased to 1.0 mg/kg every 12 hours with instructions to slowly taper the dose.…”

Section: Dogmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastasis in the Dog

Waters

Hayden

1990

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) was diagnosed in three dogs with signs of myelopathy. The clinicopathologic features of ISCM in these and previously reported cases in the veterinary and human literature were compared. Myelopathic signs associated with ISCM may be the initial clinical manifestation of malignancy or may develop in the patient with known malignancy. Pain, a frequent manifestation of extradural compressive myelopathy, is not a consistent feature of ISCM. Survey spinal radiographs are usually unrewarding and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities nonspecific. Myelog‐raphy is indicated to differentiate intramedullary lesions from more common extradural compressive lesions. Myelographic interpretation may be difficult, and intramedullary tumors must be differentiated from spinal cord edema or hemorrhage. Evidence of widely disseminated malignancy should increase suspicion for ISCM; hemangiosarcoma and lymphosarcoma should be considered the most likely histo‐logic types. CSF cytology may be helpful in the diagnosis of patients with lymphosarcoma. Prognosis is poor due to the frequent presence of disseminated disease, although temporary response to corticoste‐roid therapy may be achieved. More aggressive therapeutic approaches, such as spinal irradiation and microsurgical resection of metastases, have been advocated in humans but have not been reported in the dog. Although it is an uncommon complication of systemic malignancy, ISCM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of myelopathy in the dog. (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1990; 4:207–215)